Newgrange Virtual Cache
Lactodorum: It has been pointed out that the co-ordinates supplied are actually on private land and that the owners are not happy with geocaching on this land.
I also understand that the entry fee to the heritage site is more than nominal.
In the light of these concerns I am archiving the cache.
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This site is the oldest astronomical alignment in the world. I need the coordinates of the Southern stone which aligns with the horizon and the sun as it rises on the winter solstice as seen from the vertical line on the entrance stone.
Newgrange,a 36 foot high quartz-faced "passage grave",which was built around 3300BC, is designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was built before the great Pyramids and Stonehenge, and demonstrates the incredible level of mastery of astronomy by the local people more than 5000 years ago. This area has the greatest collection of Megalithic art in Europe.
Just before 9am on the 21st of December, the sun rises from its southernmost transit. For those few minutes, once a year, the sun illuminates the length of the 70 foot passage inside the 300 foot diameter mound. 23,000 people applied this year to witness the event from inside. Only 20 were admitted. Such is the magnetic power of this site.
The entrance stone is particularly spectacularly carved. The vertical line on this rock has a niche behind it where you can sight over one of the large stones to its southeast, and aligns directly to the horizon at the spot where the sun rises on the winter solstice to mark the astronomical New Year. Email me with the coordinates of this Great Stone (not the entrance Stone) to log this site.
To get to the site, you have to go to the Car park(free), at the visitors center, at: (N53:41.699, W06:26.813) where there is also a free virtual cache.
Bru Na Boinne visitors center is on the South side of the river from Newgrange, about 8km inland from Drogheda. An entrance fee has to be paid to get an entrance ticket and tour to Newgrange itself which is nearly 1 mile to the west. These tickets are in great demand in high season, so come early to reserve your place.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Juvpu bar bs gur 4 "Terng Fgbarf" nyvtaf gb gur jvagre fbyfgvpr? Vs va qbhog, nfx lbhe gbhethvqr!