HADLEY — Those interested in seeing the sunrise and sunset at the spring equinox on March 20 are encouraged to come to the University of Massachusetts Amherst Sunwheel.
During the four days per year that mark the changes in season — the spring equinox, the summer solstice, the fall equinox and the winter solstice — the UMass astronomy department holds talks at the Sunwheel discussing the astronomical cause of the sun’s changing position.
More than 10,000 visitors have attended the talks over the past 18 years which also include time for questions.
The Sunwheel, which consists of stones placed to mark the locations where the sun rises and sets at different points during the year, was built in 1997 by UMass astronomer Judith Young, who died in 2014.
The events on March 20 will be held at 6:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Visitors should expect especially wet footing this year, and rain or blizzard conditions would cancel the event.
Dave Eisenstadter can be reached at deisen@gazettenet.com.