El Castillo at Xunantunich stands as the second tallest structure in all of Belize at approximately 40 meters. Its western face bears a reconstructed stucco frieze depicting astronomical and cosmological scenes spanning the full width of the pyramid. The name Xunantunich means "Stone Woman" in Yucatec Maya, referring to a ghost legend. This Late Classic ceremonial center (600-900 CE) commands panoramic views of the Mopan River valley. At a Giza bearing of 50.99°, the pyramid participates in the broader Mesoamerican alignment corridor that threads through Belize's ancient Maya centers.
Stellar Alignments (89 stars)
| Star ▴ | Rise Az ▴ | Rise Δ ▴ | Set Az ▴ | Set Δ ▴ | Tradition ▴ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleiades (Alcyone) | 87.1° | — | 272.9° | — | |
| Orion's Belt (Alnilam) | 105.2° | — | 254.8° | — | |
| Sirius | 111.8° | — | 248.2° | — | |
| Thuban | — | — | — | — | |
| Vega | 44.8° | — | 315.2° | — | |
| Regulus | 64.8° | — | 295.2° | — | |
| Aldebaran | 92.0° | — | 268.0° | — | |
| Antares | 97.4° | — | 262.6° | — | |
| Fomalhaut | 136.8° | — | 223.2° | — | |
| Arcturus | 42.0° | — | 318.0° | — | |
| Galactic Center (Sgr A*) | 105.3° | — | 254.7° | — | |
| Galactic Anti-Center | 74.7° | — | 285.3° | — | |
| Deneb | 51.5° | — | 308.5° | — | |
| Capella | 59.5° | — | 300.5° | — | |
| Castor | 61.6° | — | 298.4° | — | |
| Pollux | 64.0° | — | 296.0° | — | |
| Procyon | 85.2° | — | 274.8° | — | |
| Betelgeuse | 95.1° | — | 264.9° | — | |
| Rigel | 114.1° | — | 245.9° | — | |
| Bellatrix | 98.7° | — | 261.3° | — | |
| Achernar | — | — | — | — | |
| Acrux | 132.6° | — | 227.4° | — | |
| Mimosa | 128.5° | — | 231.5° | — | |
| Altair | 81.1° | — | 278.9° | — | |
| Kochab | — | — | — | — | |
| Dubhe | 8.1° | — | 351.9° | — | |
| Alkaid | — | — | — | — | |
| Mizar | — | — | — | — | |
| Hamal | 90.2° | — | 269.8° | — | |
| Zubenelgenubi | 82.5° | — | 277.6° | — | |
| Alnitak | 105.5° | — | 254.4° | — | |
| Mintaka | 104.7° | — | 255.3° | — | |
| Saiph | 112.5° | — | 247.5° | — | |
| Peacock | 146.0° | — | 214.0° | — | |
| Miaplacidus | 148.1° | — | 211.9° | — | |
| Rigil Kentaurus | 130.6° | — | 229.4° | — | |
| Hadar | 128.5° | — | 231.5° | — | |
| Gacrux | 125.8° | — | 234.2° | — | |
| Naos | 127.2° | — | 232.8° | — | |
| Suhail | 124.3° | — | 235.7° | — | |
| Avior | 143.2° | — | 216.8° | — | |
| Atria | 141.5° | — | 218.5° | — | |
| Regor | 133.4° | — | 226.6° | — | |
| Alsephina | 136.9° | — | 223.1° | — | |
| Shaula | 112.3° | — | 247.7° | — | |
| Ankaa | 158.2° | — | 201.8° | — | |
| Menkent | 102.5° | — | 257.5° | — | |
| Alpheratz | 81.9° | — | 278.1° | — | |
| Eltanin | 28.3° | — | 331.7° | — | |
| Kornephoros | 48.9° | — | 311.1° | — | |
| Rasalhague | 63.1° | — | 296.9° | — | |
| Denebola | 53.7° | — | 306.3° | — | |
| Alhena | 82.2° | — | 277.8° | — | |
| Alphard | 89.0° | — | 271.0° | — | |
| Bharani | 93.0° | — | 267.0° | — | |
| Pushya | 67.3° | — | 292.8° | — | |
| Adhara | 123.8° | — | 236.2° | — | |
| Wezen | 120.3° | — | 239.7° | — | |
| Navi | 50.6° | — | 309.4° | — | |
| Schedar | 54.6° | — | 305.4° | — | |
| Nunki | 108.8° | — | 251.2° | — | |
| Canopus | 149.6° | — | 210.4° | — | |
| Kaus Australis | 113.7° | — | 246.3° | — | |
| Sabik | 89.5° | — | 270.5° | — | |
| Scheat | 79.8° | — | 280.2° | — | |
| Enif | 91.4° | — | 268.6° | — | |
| Diphda | 132.6° | — | 227.4° | — | |
| Alphecca | 39.2° | — | 320.8° | — | |
| Rasalgethi | 59.8° | — | 300.2° | — | |
| Spica | 76.9° | — | 283.1° | — | |
| Zubeneschamali | 76.4° | — | 283.6° | — | |
| Unukalhai | 61.3° | — | 298.8° | — | |
| Murzim | 117.0° | — | 242.9° | — | |
| Phact | 137.1° | — | 222.9° | — | |
| Mirfak | 61.3° | — | 298.7° | — | |
| Vindemiatrix | 54.2° | — | 305.8° | — | |
| Markab | 92.7° | — | 267.4° | — | |
| Algol | 71.1° | — | 288.9° | — | |
| Sadalmelik | 103.4° | — | 256.6° | — | |
| Sadalsuud | 105.2° | — | 254.8° | — | |
| Sun (Summer Solstice) | 65.4° | — | 294.6° | — | |
| Sun (Winter Solstice) | 114.6° | — | 245.4° | — | |
| Sun (Equinox) | 90.0° | — | 270.0° | — | |
| Sun (Northern Cross-Quarter) | 72.7° | — | 287.3° | — | |
| Sun (Southern Cross-Quarter) | 107.3° | — | 252.7° | — | |
| Moon (N Major Standstill) | 59.8° | — | 300.2° | — | |
| Moon (S Major Standstill) | 120.2° | — | 239.8° | — | |
| Moon (N Minor Standstill) | 70.4° | — | 289.6° | — | |
| Moon (S Minor Standstill) | 109.6° | — | 250.4° | — |
Convergence Events (1)
49.1°
Vega Rise
Japanese (Orihime/Tanabata), Chinese (Weaver Girl), pole star ~12000 BCE
Δ 1.9°
Reference Bearings (20 landmarks)
| Landmark | Bearing | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| giza | 50.99° | 11,753 km |
| angkor wat | 336.36° | 16,335 km |
| nazca | 155.51° | 3,864 km |
| teotihuacan | 287.28° | 1,064 km |
| stonehenge | 40.39° | 8,352 km |
| gobekli tepe | 40.95° | 11,892 km |
| machu picchu | 150.52° | 3,826 km |
| easter island | 204.30° | 5,377 km |
| cahokia | 358.05° | 2,400 km |
| sedona | 315.75° | 2,990 km |
| mecca | 54.24° | 12,997 km |
| jerusalem | 47.45° | 11,975 km |
| vatican | 46.90° | 9,668 km |
| lhasa | 359.69° | 14,817 km |
| kailash | 10.85° | 14,564 km |
| uluru | 250.52° | 15,767 km |
| tiwanaku | 147.99° | 4,362 km |
| chaco canyon | 322.33° | 2,809 km |
| mt shasta | 317.36° | 4,153 km |
| levis stadium | 311.75° | 3,921 km |
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