Cochasqui Pyramid 9 is the largest of 15 truncated earth-and-cinder pyramids built by the Quitu-Cara (or Caranqui) people north of present-day Quito, Ecuador. The 84-hectare archaeological park also contains 21 burial mounds (tolas). With long access ramps extending from each pyramid, the site functioned as an astronomical and ceremonial center supporting approximately 3,000 inhabitants through intensive agriculture on the equatorial highlands. Located almost exactly on the equator at 0.0567°N. At 58.53° Giza bearing, Cochasqui's near-equatorial position made it ideal for astronomical observation — the equinox sun rises due east and sets due west with minimal seasonal variation.
Stellar Alignments (89 stars)
| Star ▴ | Rise Az ▴ | Rise Δ ▴ | Set Az ▴ | Set Δ ▴ | Tradition ▴ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleiades (Alcyone) | 87.2° | — | 272.8° | — | |
| Orion's Belt (Alnilam) | 104.5° | — | 255.5° | — | |
| Sirius | 110.8° | — | 249.2° | — | |
| Thuban | 2.0° | — | 358.0° | — | |
| Vega | 47.3° | — | 312.7° | — | |
| Regulus | 66.0° | — | 294.0° | — | |
| Aldebaran | 91.9° | — | 268.1° | — | |
| Antares | 97.0° | — | 262.9° | — | |
| Fomalhaut | 134.2° | — | 225.8° | — | |
| Arcturus | 44.7° | — | 315.3° | — | |
| Galactic Center (Sgr A*) | 104.7° | — | 255.3° | — | |
| Galactic Anti-Center | 75.4° | — | 284.6° | — | |
| Deneb | 53.5° | — | 306.5° | — | |
| Capella | 61.0° | — | 299.0° | — | |
| Castor | 62.9° | — | 297.1° | — | |
| Pollux | 65.2° | — | 294.8° | — | |
| Procyon | 85.4° | — | 274.6° | — | |
| Betelgeuse | 94.8° | — | 265.1° | — | |
| Rigel | 113.0° | — | 247.1° | — | |
| Bellatrix | 98.3° | — | 261.7° | — | |
| Achernar | 170.7° | — | 189.3° | — | |
| Acrux | 130.3° | — | 229.7° | — | |
| Mimosa | 126.5° | — | 233.5° | — | |
| Altair | 81.5° | — | 278.5° | — | |
| Kochab | 9.2° | — | 350.8° | — | |
| Dubhe | 18.9° | — | 341.1° | — | |
| Alkaid | 16.9° | — | 343.1° | — | |
| Mizar | 11.9° | — | 348.1° | — | |
| Hamal | 90.2° | — | 269.9° | — | |
| Zubenelgenubi | 82.8° | — | 277.2° | — | |
| Alnitak | 104.8° | — | 255.2° | — | |
| Mintaka | 104.0° | — | 255.9° | — | |
| Saiph | 111.4° | — | 248.6° | — | |
| Peacock | 142.4° | — | 217.6° | — | |
| Miaplacidus | 144.3° | — | 215.7° | — | |
| Rigil Kentaurus | 128.5° | — | 231.5° | — | |
| Hadar | 126.5° | — | 233.5° | — | |
| Gacrux | 124.0° | — | 236.0° | — | |
| Naos | 125.3° | — | 234.7° | — | |
| Suhail | 122.6° | — | 237.4° | — | |
| Avior | 139.9° | — | 220.1° | — | |
| Atria | 138.4° | — | 221.6° | — | |
| Regor | 131.1° | — | 228.9° | — | |
| Alsephina | 134.2° | — | 225.8° | — | |
| Shaula | 111.3° | — | 248.7° | — | |
| Ankaa | 152.6° | — | 207.4° | — | |
| Menkent | 101.9° | — | 258.1° | — | |
| Alpheratz | 82.3° | — | 277.7° | — | |
| Eltanin | 32.7° | — | 327.3° | — | |
| Kornephoros | 51.0° | — | 308.9° | — | |
| Rasalhague | 64.4° | — | 295.6° | — | |
| Denebola | 55.5° | — | 304.5° | — | |
| Alhena | 82.6° | — | 277.4° | — | |
| Alphard | 89.1° | — | 270.9° | — | |
| Bharani | 92.9° | — | 267.1° | — | |
| Pushya | 68.3° | — | 291.7° | — | |
| Adhara | 122.1° | — | 237.9° | — | |
| Wezen | 118.8° | — | 241.2° | — | |
| Navi | 52.6° | — | 307.4° | — | |
| Schedar | 56.4° | — | 303.6° | — | |
| Nunki | 108.0° | — | 252.0° | — | |
| Canopus | 145.5° | — | 214.5° | — | |
| Kaus Australis | 112.6° | — | 247.4° | — | |
| Sabik | 89.5° | — | 270.4° | — | |
| Scheat | 80.3° | — | 279.7° | — | |
| Enif | 91.3° | — | 268.7° | — | |
| Diphda | 130.3° | — | 229.7° | — | |
| Alphecca | 42.2° | — | 317.8° | — | |
| Rasalgethi | 61.3° | — | 298.7° | — | |
| Spica | 77.5° | — | 282.5° | — | |
| Zubeneschamali | 77.0° | — | 283.0° | — | |
| Unukalhai | 62.6° | — | 297.4° | — | |
| Murzim | 115.8° | — | 244.2° | — | |
| Phact | 134.4° | — | 225.6° | — | |
| Mirfak | 62.7° | — | 297.3° | — | |
| Vindemiatrix | 56.0° | — | 304.0° | — | |
| Markab | 92.5° | — | 267.5° | — | |
| Algol | 72.0° | — | 288.0° | — | |
| Sadalmelik | 102.8° | — | 257.2° | — | |
| Sadalsuud | 104.5° | — | 255.5° | — | |
| Sun (Summer Solstice) | 66.6° | — | 293.4° | — | |
| Sun (Winter Solstice) | 113.4° | — | 246.6° | — | |
| Sun (Equinox) | 90.0° | — | 270.0° | — | |
| Sun (Northern Cross-Quarter) | 73.5° | — | 286.5° | — | |
| Sun (Southern Cross-Quarter) | 106.5° | — | 253.5° | — | |
| Moon (N Major Standstill) | 61.3° | — | 298.7° | — | |
| Moon (S Major Standstill) | 118.7° | — | 241.3° | — | |
| Moon (N Minor Standstill) | 71.3° | — | 288.7° | — | |
| Moon (S Minor Standstill) | 108.7° | — | 251.3° | — |
Convergence Events (2)
58.1°
Castor Rise
Greek (Dioscuri), Hindu, Chinese, Babylonian
Δ 0.4°
60.9°
Alpheratz Rise
Chinese (Wall/Bi mansion), Arabic, Hindu
Δ 2.4°
Reference Bearings (20 landmarks)
| Landmark | Bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| giza | 58.53° | 11,868 km |
| angkor wat | 350.98° | 18,498 km |
| nazca | 167.66° | 1,685 km |
| teotihuacan | 315.50° | 3,126 km |
| stonehenge | 38.04° | 9,066 km |
| gobekli tepe | 49.47° | 12,380 km |
| machu picchu | 156.84° | 1,601 km |
| easter island | 225.15° | 4,486 km |
| cahokia | 345.70° | 4,456 km |
| sedona | 321.62° | 5,199 km |
| mecca | 65.99° | 12,900 km |
| jerusalem | 55.95° | 12,210 km |
| vatican | 48.09° | 10,067 km |
| lhasa | 17.83° | 16,526 km |
| kailash | 29.99° | 15,941 km |
| uluru | 226.03° | 15,792 km |
| tiwanaku | 150.69° | 2,128 km |
| chaco canyon | 325.78° | 5,040 km |
| mt shasta | 321.65° | 6,366 km |
| levis stadium | 317.89° | 6,102 km |
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