The design of the UMass Sunwheel is based primarily on ASTRONOMICAL REQUIREMENTS, although some aspects of the design will focus on the Sunwheel as a visual structure. An essential part of the Sunwheel is the CENTRAL VIEWING AREA; it is from the center of the Sunwheel that all of the sunrise and sunset observations and sightings are made. The STANDING STONES to be used in the Sunwheel will be placed in a circle 65 feet from the central viewing area. The stones will be natural granite monoliths, approximately 2'x4' at the base and 8' high, each weighing roughly 3 to 5 tons. The 4 stones marking the SUMMER AND WINTER SOLSTICE sunrises and sunsets will each stand 8 feet above ground. For orientation and symmetry, there will be standing stones in the NORTH, SOUTH, EAST and WEST directions as well. Rather than a single standing stone in the East and West directions, there will be 2 standing stones approximately 2-3 feet apart, making a portal. These stone doorways will also be 8 feet high and located 65 feet from the central viewing area, marking both the cardinal directions and the EQUINOX sunrises and sunsets.
In addition to the standing stones, there will be an INFORMATIONAL EXHIBIT which is displayed around the area, describing the use of the Sunwheel and explaining the origin of the cycle in the Sun's apparent motion throughout the year. With this explanatory information added to the structure, the SUNWHEEL IS AN OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT WHICH CAN BE USED YEAR ROUND BY ANYONE.
The diagram below illustrates the Sun's daily path in the sky on the solstices and equinoxes for observers at mid-northern latitudes.

This diagram illustrates that the Sun rises to the northeast and sets to the northwest on the Summer Solstice, while the Sun rises to the southeast and sets to the southwest on the Winter Solstice. Also illustrated is the fact that the Sun is higher in the sky at noon on the Summer Solstice than on the Winter Solstice, and that there are more daylight hours in the summer than winter. The fact that the Sun is higher in the sky in the summer, combined with more daylight hours, is what causes us to have warm summers. These effects come about because of the fixed 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation relative to the plane of our yearly orbit around the Sun.

In addition to the SOLSTICE, EQUINOX, and NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, and WEST STONES, the Sunwheel will also include a unique feature -- MOONSTONES. These additional standing stones, to be next to each of the solstice stones, and 1-2' shorter in height, will mark the extremes in the rising and setting direction of the Moon. Because of the Moon's 18.6 year cycle, the next time the Moon will reach its major standstill is 2007, and at that time the moonrise and moonset directions will be toward the MOONSTONES in the Sunwheel. The locations of these stones were calculated based on the tilt of the Moon's orbit with respect to the ecliptic.
Click below to see a figure showing the relative locations of the SOLSTICE STANDING STONES and STONE DOORWAYS.