Ask A Scientist© Astronomy Archive

Question:  We are students from Eureka High School.  We are studying Stonehenge
and how it relates to astronomy.  It would be appreciated if someone would tell
us their ideas as to what the purpose of Stonehenge is, especially how it is
related to the position of the Sun.
joan e herron

Answer:  The best explanation is that rising and setting of the sun and moon at
different times of the year were determined by the lithes as determined from
various points of reference.  As best as we know it was a calendar and was used
to predict times of the year for religious or agricultural purposes.  You could  make similar
predictions of where the sun would rise, set, or how high it would be at noon
for yourselves and make your own calendar.