There’s a lot going on in the skies on Friday, March 20.
Firstly, a total solar eclipse will occur across the Arctic and in the far Northern Atlantic. A larger swath of the world will get to see varying degrees of a partial solar eclipse (Greenland, Iceland, Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East and northwestern Asia).
Unfortunately, the eclipse cannot be seen in Western Mexico but will be broadcast extensively on the Internet from around 3:30 a.m. CST. Among the major European cities that will experience partial eclipses are Reykjavik (sun 98 percent covered), Dublin (92 percent), Oslo (90 percent), London (87 percent), Copenhagen (84 percent), Paris (81 percent).
Also on March 20, the moon turns new only 14 hours after reaching lunar perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit. This is a rare event known as a supermoon, and although not visible does have a larger-than-average effect on the Earth’s oceans.
Making this day triply impressive is the fact that March 20 is also the spring equinox – officially at 4:45 p.m. CST.
On the equinox, night and day are nearly exactly the same length – 12 hours – all over the world. This is the reason it’s called an “equinox,” derived from Latin, meaning “equal night.”
For many societies, the spring solstice marked the end of winter and the approach of spring, fertility and fresh food. One of the most famous ancient celebrations was the Mayan sacrificial ritual by the main pyramid at Chichen Itza in southern Mexico.
No blood will be spilled in our region but, two archaeological sites are busily preparing to host a stream of visitors for spring solstice celebrations, not only on March 20 itself, but also over the weekend, when more people will be free to take time off.
The somewhat unkempt Ixtepete pyramids on the outskirts of Guadalajara are deserted most of the year but leap into a flurry of activity as new age groups descend to recharge their batteries with solar energy on the spring equinox.
Zapopan city hall has arranged a full day of activities at the site on Saturday, March 21, starting at 10 a.m. with Aztec and ancestral dance performances, Mayan music, folk singer Alberto Escobar, demonstrations of pre-Hispanic ball games and ceremonies, and workshops in meditation, recycling and pottery.
The Ixtepete ruins, dating back 6,000 years, are easy to find, located on Av. Mariano Otero, one block past the Periferico. There is parking available.
About 30 miles west of Guadalajara, at Jalisco’s excellent premier archaeological site, Guachimontones, authorities are also expecting large crowds for the solstice.
On Saturday, when the majority of visitors are expected, the site will open early at 7 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Sunday’s hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guachimontones also has a fascinating museum explaining the site’s history.
To get to Guachimontones from Guadalajara take Avenida Vallarta and continue on past the Periferco (beltway) on Highway 15 to just before the start of the toll road to Tepic (about 7 miles). Take Highway 70 to Tala (about 8 miles), and pass through the town before taking Highway 4 to the town of Teuchitlan and Guachimontones (about 6 miles). Driving time: about 50 minutes.
Those coming from the Lake Chapala area should get on the Guadalajara highway and turn on to the Circuito Metropolitano Sur toward Cajititlan at La Calera, about five miles before the Guadalajara Airport. Continue on the Circuito past Cajititlan, Santa Cruz de las Flores and Mazatepec until reaching Tala (about 30 miles). Then follow the same directions as above. Driving time: about one hour 20 minutes.