Chanquillo's Thirteen Towers — a row of stone structures spanning a north-south ridge in Peru's Casma Valley — constitute the oldest known astronomical observatory in the Americas, precisely tracking the sun's position along the horizon across the solstices. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, the complex dates to approximately 250 BCE. When observed from designated viewing points, the sun rises and sets between successive towers on specific calendar dates, creating a solar calendar of remarkable precision. At 61.43° Giza bearing, Chanquillo sits on the Andean Pleiades corridor. The site also includes a fortified temple and administrative complex, suggesting astronomical observation was integrated with political and ceremonial authority.
Wikipedia| Star ▴ | Rise Az ▴ | Rise Δ ▴ | Set Az ▴ | Set Δ ▴ | Tradition ▴ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleiades (Alcyone) | 87.2° | — | 272.8° | — | |
| Orion's Belt (Alnilam) | 104.8° | — | 255.3° | — | |
| Sirius | 111.1° | — | 248.9° | — | |
| Thuban | — | — | — | — | |
| Vega | 46.6° | — | 313.4° | — | |
| Regulus | 65.7° | — | 294.4° | — | |
| Aldebaran | 92.0° | — | 268.1° | — | |
| Antares | 97.2° | — | 262.9° | — | |
| Fomalhaut | 135.0° | — | 225.0° | — | |
| Arcturus | 43.9° | — | 316.1° | — | |
| Galactic Center (Sgr A*) | 104.9° | — | 255.1° | — | |
| Galactic Anti-Center | 75.2° | — | 284.8° | — | |
| Deneb | 52.9° | — | 307.1° | — | |
| Capella | 60.5° | — | 299.5° | — | |
| Castor | 62.5° | — | 297.5° | — | |
| Pollux | 64.9° | — | 295.1° | — | |
| Procyon | 85.3° | — | 274.7° | — | |
| Betelgeuse | 94.9° | — | 265.1° | — | |
| Rigel | 113.3° | — | 246.7° | — | |
| Bellatrix | 98.4° | — | 261.6° | — | |
| Achernar | — | — | — | — | |
| Acrux | 131.0° | — | 229.0° | — | |
| Mimosa | 127.1° | — | 232.9° | — | |
| Altair | 81.4° | — | 278.6° | — | |
| Kochab | — | — | — | — | |
| Dubhe | 16.4° | — | 343.6° | — | |
| Alkaid | 14.0° | — | 346.0° | — | |
| Mizar | 7.2° | — | 352.8° | — | |
| Hamal | 90.2° | — | 269.8° | — | |
| Zubenelgenubi | 82.7° | — | 277.3° | — | |
| Alnitak | 105.1° | — | 254.9° | — | |
| Mintaka | 104.3° | — | 255.8° | — | |
| Saiph | 111.8° | — | 248.2° | — | |
| Peacock | 143.4° | — | 216.6° | — | |
| Miaplacidus | 145.4° | — | 214.6° | — | |
| Rigil Kentaurus | 129.1° | — | 230.9° | — | |
| Hadar | 127.1° | — | 232.9° | — | |
| Gacrux | 124.6° | — | 235.4° | — | |
| Naos | 125.9° | — | 234.1° | — | |
| Suhail | 123.1° | — | 236.9° | — | |
| Avior | 140.9° | — | 219.1° | — | |
| Atria | 139.3° | — | 220.7° | — | |
| Regor | 131.8° | — | 228.2° | — | |
| Alsephina | 135.0° | — | 225.0° | — | |
| Shaula | 111.6° | — | 248.4° | — | |
| Ankaa | 154.2° | — | 205.8° | — | |
| Menkent | 102.1° | — | 257.9° | — | |
| Alpheratz | 82.2° | — | 277.8° | — | |
| Eltanin | 31.4° | — | 328.6° | — | |
| Kornephoros | 50.4° | — | 309.6° | — | |
| Rasalhague | 64.0° | — | 296.0° | — | |
| Denebola | 54.9° | — | 305.1° | — | |
| Alhena | 82.5° | — | 277.5° | — | |
| Alphard | 89.0° | — | 270.9° | — | |
| Bharani | 93.0° | — | 267.1° | — | |
| Pushya | 68.0° | — | 292.0° | — | |
| Adhara | 122.6° | — | 237.4° | — | |
| Wezen | 119.3° | — | 240.7° | — | |
| Navi | 52.0° | — | 308.0° | — | |
| Schedar | 55.9° | — | 304.1° | — | |
| Nunki | 108.2° | — | 251.8° | — | |
| Canopus | 146.7° | — | 213.3° | — | |
| Kaus Australis | 112.9° | — | 247.1° | — | |
| Sabik | 89.5° | — | 270.5° | — | |
| Scheat | 80.1° | — | 279.9° | — | |
| Enif | 91.3° | — | 268.7° | — | |
| Diphda | 131.0° | — | 229.0° | — | |
| Alphecca | 41.3° | — | 318.7° | — | |
| Rasalgethi | 60.8° | — | 299.2° | — | |
| Spica | 77.3° | — | 282.7° | — | |
| Zubeneschamali | 76.8° | — | 283.2° | — | |
| Unukalhai | 62.2° | — | 297.8° | — | |
| Murzim | 116.2° | — | 243.8° | — | |
| Phact | 135.2° | — | 224.8° | — | |
| Mirfak | 62.3° | — | 297.7° | — | |
| Vindemiatrix | 55.4° | — | 304.6° | — | |
| Markab | 92.6° | — | 267.4° | — | |
| Algol | 71.7° | — | 288.3° | — | |
| Sadalmelik | 102.9° | — | 257.1° | — | |
| Sadalsuud | 104.7° | — | 255.3° | — | |
| Sun (Summer Solstice) | 66.2° | — | 293.8° | — | |
| Sun (Winter Solstice) | 113.8° | — | 246.2° | — | |
| Sun (Equinox) | 90.0° | — | 270.0° | — | |
| Sun (Northern Cross-Quarter) | 73.3° | — | 286.7° | — | |
| Sun (Southern Cross-Quarter) | 106.7° | — | 253.3° | — | |
| Moon (N Major Standstill) | 60.8° | — | 299.2° | — | |
| Moon (S Major Standstill) | 119.2° | — | 240.8° | — | |
| Moon (N Minor Standstill) | 71.0° | — | 289.0° | — | |
| Moon (S Minor Standstill) | 109.0° | — | 251.0° | — |