Visitors stand against the Great House at Aztec Ruins National Monument to witness the sunset align with the west wall during the winter solstice Saturday in Aztec. (Curtis Ray Benally/Special to the Tri-City Record)
Saturday was shortest day of the year
Chaco Culture National Park and the Aztec Ruins National Monument on Saturday hosted winter solstice events on Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year.
Chaco opened to the first 100 visitors to arrive about 6:30 a.m. Saturday for the 7:19 a.m. sunrise. Aztec Ruins opened at 4:30 p.m. for the 4:59 p.m. sunset, which aligned with the back wall of the Aztec West Great House.
The winter solstice occurs twice a year in the norther and southern hemispheres. In the north, on Dec. 21 or 22, the solstice has the shortest day and longest night, when the sun is at its lowest elevation in the sky.
In the southern hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs on June 21 or 22.
A large crowd witnesses the sunset align Saturday with the west wall of the Great House during the winter solstice at Aztec Ruins National Monument. (Curtis Ray Benally/Special to the Tri-City Record)
Beni Fiske and James Studinski of Farmington take a selfie during the winter solstice Saturday at Aztec Ruins National Monument. (Curtis Ray Benally/Special to the Tri-City Record)
Jason Askey holds his 4-year-old son, Lucion, so he can view the winter solstice sunset Saturday at Aztec Ruins National Monument. (Curtis Ray Benally/Special to the Tri-City Record)
