The Pyramid of Sahure at Abusir, built around 2480 BCE, was the first pyramid constructed at this site, establishing a new royal necropolis between Giza and Saqqara. Though modestly sized at 47 meters tall, its mortuary complex was revolutionary: the causeway and temples were decorated with over 10,000 square meters of exquisitely carved and painted limestone reliefs — the finest architectural decoration of the Old Kingdom. Scenes include the earliest depiction of a sea-going expedition (to Byblos), hunting in the desert, and the pharaoh defeating enemies. At Giza bearing 323.67° and 11.2 km from the Great Pyramid, Sahure's complex introduced the standard pyramid temple plan that would be copied for centuries. The Czech Archaeological Institute has been excavating and restoring the site since 1976, revealing details of construction techniques and the daily life of the priests who maintained the funerary cult — inscribed on papyri found in the storage rooms.
| Star ▴ | Rise Az ▴ | Rise Δ ▴ | Set Az ▴ | Set Δ ▴ | Tradition ▴ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleiades (Alcyone) | 86.8° | — | 273.2° | — | |
| Orion's Belt (Alnilam) | 106.8° | — | 253.2° | — | |
| Sirius | 114.1° | — | 245.9° | — | |
| Thuban | — | — | — | — | |
| Vega | 38.6° | — | 321.4° | — | |
| Regulus | 62.0° | — | 298.0° | — | |
| Aldebaran | 92.2° | — | 267.8° | — | |
| Antares | 98.1° | — | 261.9° | — | |
| Fomalhaut | 143.6° | — | 216.4° | — | |
| Arcturus | 34.9° | — | 325.1° | — | |
| Galactic Center (Sgr A*) | 107.0° | — | 253.0° | — | |
| Galactic Anti-Center | 73.1° | — | 286.9° | — | |
| Deneb | 46.7° | — | 313.3° | — | |
| Capella | 56.0° | — | 304.0° | — | |
| Castor | 58.4° | — | 301.6° | — | |
| Pollux | 61.1° | — | 298.9° | — | |
| Procyon | 84.7° | — | 275.3° | — | |
| Betelgeuse | 95.6° | — | 264.4° | — | |
| Rigel | 116.7° | — | 243.3° | — | |
| Bellatrix | 99.6° | — | 260.4° | — | |
| Achernar | — | — | — | — | |
| Acrux | 138.2° | — | 221.8° | — | |
| Mimosa | 133.3° | — | 226.7° | — | |
| Altair | 80.2° | — | 279.8° | — | |
| Kochab | — | — | — | — | |
| Dubhe | — | — | — | — | |
| Alkaid | — | — | — | — | |
| Mizar | — | — | — | — | |
| Hamal | 90.2° | — | 269.8° | — | |
| Zubenelgenubi | 81.7° | — | 278.3° | — | |
| Alnitak | 107.2° | — | 252.8° | — | |
| Mintaka | 106.3° | — | 253.7° | — | |
| Saiph | 114.9° | — | 245.1° | — | |
| Peacock | 156.0° | — | 204.0° | — | |
| Miaplacidus | 159.5° | — | 200.5° | — | |
| Rigil Kentaurus | 135.9° | — | 224.1° | — | |
| Hadar | 133.4° | — | 226.6° | — | |
| Gacrux | 130.2° | — | 229.8° | — | |
| Naos | 131.8° | — | 228.2° | — | |
| Suhail | 128.4° | — | 231.6° | — | |
| Avior | 151.9° | — | 208.1° | — | |
| Atria | 149.7° | — | 210.3° | — | |
| Regor | 139.3° | — | 220.7° | — | |
| Alsephina | 143.6° | — | 216.4° | — | |
| Shaula | 114.8° | — | 245.2° | — | |
| Ankaa | — | — | — | — | |
| Menkent | 103.8° | — | 256.2° | — | |
| Alpheratz | 81.1° | — | 278.9° | — | |
| Eltanin | 13.9° | — | 346.1° | — | |
| Kornephoros | 43.5° | — | 316.5° | — | |
| Rasalhague | 60.1° | — | 299.9° | — | |
| Denebola | 49.2° | — | 310.8° | — | |
| Alhena | 81.4° | — | 278.6° | — | |
| Alphard | 88.9° | — | 271.1° | — | |
| Bharani | 93.3° | — | 266.6° | — | |
| Pushya | 64.8° | — | 295.2° | — | |
| Adhara | 127.8° | — | 232.2° | — | |
| Wezen | 123.8° | — | 236.2° | — | |
| Navi | 45.5° | — | 314.5° | — | |
| Schedar | 50.3° | — | 309.7° | — | |
| Nunki | 110.9° | — | 249.1° | — | |
| Canopus | 161.9° | — | 198.1° | — | |
| Kaus Australis | 116.3° | — | 243.7° | — | |
| Sabik | 89.5° | — | 270.5° | — | |
| Scheat | 78.8° | — | 281.3° | — | |
| Enif | 91.5° | — | 268.5° | — | |
| Diphda | 138.3° | — | 221.7° | — | |
| Alphecca | 31.3° | — | 328.7° | — | |
| Rasalgethi | 56.3° | — | 303.7° | — | |
| Spica | 75.6° | — | 284.4° | — | |
| Zubeneschamali | 75.0° | — | 285.0° | — | |
| Unukalhai | 58.0° | — | 302.0° | — | |
| Murzim | 120.1° | — | 239.9° | — | |
| Phact | 143.9° | — | 216.1° | — | |
| Mirfak | 58.1° | — | 301.9° | — | |
| Vindemiatrix | 49.8° | — | 310.2° | — | |
| Markab | 92.9° | — | 267.1° | — | |
| Algol | 69.1° | — | 290.9° | — | |
| Sadalmelik | 104.8° | — | 255.2° | — | |
| Sadalsuud | 106.8° | — | 253.2° | — | |
| Sun (Summer Solstice) | 62.7° | — | 297.3° | — | |
| Sun (Winter Solstice) | 117.3° | — | 242.7° | — | |
| Sun (Equinox) | 90.0° | — | 270.0° | — | |
| Sun (Northern Cross-Quarter) | 70.9° | — | 289.1° | — | |
| Sun (Southern Cross-Quarter) | 109.1° | — | 250.9° | — | |
| Moon (N Major Standstill) | 56.3° | — | 303.7° | — | |
| Moon (S Major Standstill) | 123.7° | — | 236.3° | — | |
| Moon (N Minor Standstill) | 68.3° | — | 291.7° | — | |
| Moon (S Minor Standstill) | 111.7° | — | 248.3° | — |
| Landmark | Bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| giza | 323.67° | 11 km |
| angkor wat | 86.51° | 7,614 km |
| nazca | 264.71° | 12,359 km |
| teotihuacan | 309.50° | 12,335 km |
| stonehenge | 320.43° | 3,607 km |
| gobekli tepe | 39.21° | 1,083 km |
| machu picchu | 265.04° | 12,043 km |
| easter island | 264.70° | 16,167 km |
| cahokia | 318.08° | 10,262 km |
| sedona | 328.99° | 11,834 km |
| mecca | 135.52° | 1,278 km |
| jerusalem | 60.47° | 436 km |
| vatican | 313.58° | 2,144 km |
| lhasa | 74.27° | 5,712 km |
| kailash | 75.21° | 4,762 km |
| uluru | 108.28° | 12,266 km |
| tiwanaku | 260.09° | 11,846 km |
| chaco canyon | 327.04° | 11,531 km |
| mt shasta | 339.74° | 11,642 km |
| levis stadium | 337.83° | 12,028 km |