Only Once A Year At 11:11 AM The Sun Aligns Perfectly To Uncover This Memorial’s Hidden Beauty
The Anthem Veterans Memorial (AVM) in Anthem, Arizona, is a monument in honor of the service and sacrifice of the United States armed forces. It is, however, “incomplete” 364 days per year. To fully appreciate it, you have to be there at a very specific time. And sun.
“At precisely 11:11 a.m. [PT] each Veterans Day (Nov. 11), the sun’s rays pass through the ellipses of the five Armed Services pillars to form a perfect solar spotlight over a mosaic of The Great Seal of the United States,” the city’s community council writes. “The five pillars represent the unity of the five branches of the United States military serving steadfast together.” Those include the United States Army, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard. “They are staggered in size with their appropriate military seal placements on each pillar based upon the Department of Defense prescribed precedence.”
A lot of consideration went into building this monument. “Each year, the center of the sun is slightly offset from other years by just a few horizontal or vertical arc-seconds relative to the timing of the required azimuth/altitude position of the sun,” AVM chief engineer Jim Martin explained. “Using the statistical mean of the 100-year data, the altitude and azimuth angles for the structure were adjusted to provide time/error fluctuation of plus or minus 12 time seconds from the International Atomic Time mark of 11:11:11 a.m. <…> we also checked the variance 500 years out, and if the structure is still standing, it will work.”
More info: onlineatanthem.com (h/t twistedsifter)
The Anthem Veterans Memorial in Anthem, Arizona, is “incomplete” 364 days per year
Image credits: visitarizona
But at precisely 11:11 a.m. each Veterans Day (Nov. 11), the sun’s rays pass through the pillars to illuminate The Great Seal of the United States
Image credits: Mike Spinelli
“The five pillars represent the unity of the five branches of the United States military serving steadfast together”
Image credits: Anthem Community Council
“They are staggered in size with their appropriate military seal placements on each pillar based upon the Department of Defense prescribed precedence”
Image credits: Anthem Community Council
A lot of consideration went into building this monument
Image credits: Mike Spinelli
Using 100-year statistical data, the altitude and azimuth angles for the structure were adjusted to provide time/error fluctuation of plus or minus 12 time seconds
Image credits: Anthem Community Council
“We also checked the variance 500 years out, and if the structure is still standing, it will work”
Image credits: Mike Spinelli
wow this is really amazing
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I resigned my office-job and now I am getting paid £64 hourly. How? I work over internet! My old work was making me miserable, so I was forced to try something different, two years after...I can say my life is changed-completely for the better! Check it out what i do... http://cutt.us/OHemS
Get Lost!
A very cool way to honor U.S. Veterans. And because of this, every year it will draw attention and people to it who will likely see the day as more than just a day off from school or work.
Actually, we didn't get school off, and we didn't even talk about it in class. Yay, Texas!
I'd like to say it is BS that schools are open for Columbus and Vetrans day. They could teach but don't! Also no President day or Easter break! However Martin L King and deer hunting opening days are off. This is BS!
Well, since Veterans Day was on Saturday this year, you didn't need a day off school :) (fellow Texan here)
Awe what a shame! :(
Well isn't that clever?
I'd love to see this.
It's like the Egyptian sun temple!
And Newgrange in Ireland. Really makes you appreciate what they did back them more.
Majestic
Woah that’s awesome!
What about daylight savings time? Also, sorry to burst your bubble, but unless the date is June or December 18, the sun will shine at that particular angle twice a year.
you cant be serious? they dont observe daylight savings in arizona
Ummm, actually, there would be the equivalent day after the winter solstice too, 41 day past, to be (almost) exact. That would be approx January the 31st. Why I said "almost" is that this will vary anyway, thanks to the Leap Year Cycle. The precise timing will vary by upwards of a whole day. There'll be exactly ONE day every four years when the sun exactly aligns at that exact hour and minute. Cute idea, messed up by some inescapable astronomical realities.
That is SUPER cool. And Happy Veterans' Day to all the vets out there!
Question. So in every other day can you still see the seal? Or not.
Looks like sun light will make a perfect circle of light the size of the emblem on the ground. The emblem is always there.
That is considerably less interesting than if, say, each hole had a glass filter with an image on it that formed the emblem.
Lovely!
What a wonderful way to honour War Veterans.
Beautiful Tribute to the Armed Services
so fucking awesome and creative
I don't see it
SRAMLNS +
A meticulous brilliance...
The sun is so far away and the earth rotates as we both hurl through space so fast it's incredible to me how consistent it all is that they can get that light to within a couple centimetres year after year.
Very cool, amazing way to show respect&remember
That's really cool. Hardly a beauty though.
this is so cool!!
I cannot understand why the Fox News did not report this yesterday and build it up for everyone to observe this happening today. Of all the great programs planned for our veterans, this should be historical
How do leap years figure into this?
This is an amazing tribute to the men and women who are serving or have done military service for their country. The only issue is that their are proposals to start a United States Space Force. This monument may have to have a sixth pillar at some point in the future.
Excellent
And then it's a rainy day without sun 😅
This should happen twice a year, about 30 days before (Veterans Day) AND after the winter solstice.
Are you saying it should, or does?
Rokas L ... Sadly you left out the Army in your description in the second paragraph above :( "Those include the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard." Capture-5a...770b7f.jpg
Yes, thank you for noticing and saying something!!!
It will do so twice a year also in spring it will
I’m really sorry for commenting here but I didn’t know where else to say this. What’s wrong with my profile picture? I can’t change it anymore for some reason.
This comment has been deleted.
No, I use IOS, so no, I didn’t change the location. I can try logging in on my computer though
I don’t know why it’s all white. Are you guys seeing this too?
It looks like you don't have any picture. All white, without frame.
This comment has been deleted.
Jep looks white for me to
Hidden message? This is a glorified spotlight. I was hoping that it would reveal a message written in shadow or something. Great idea honoring heroes, but perhaps the heading shouldn't be so misleading.
I see the title has been changed. Much better!
why do you have to be so negative
Scenic Ranch SE Arizona $595WK~ $695WK 360 Mt Views, 3 Ghost Towns and 2 National Parks. Tons of history to explore. 14 Vineyards close by to enjoy. Tombstone, Willcox, Benson are a short drive from Ranch. Website~ http://hummingbirdranchaz.com
fucking B 8hxbqpxr0i...71-png.jpg
11:11, you say? Well, Eleven DID have magical powers...
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
HEY YOU FORGOT TO MENTION ARMY! PROOF READ YOUR ARTICLES
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
USA!
wow this is really amazing
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I resigned my office-job and now I am getting paid £64 hourly. How? I work over internet! My old work was making me miserable, so I was forced to try something different, two years after...I can say my life is changed-completely for the better! Check it out what i do... http://cutt.us/OHemS
Get Lost!
A very cool way to honor U.S. Veterans. And because of this, every year it will draw attention and people to it who will likely see the day as more than just a day off from school or work.
Actually, we didn't get school off, and we didn't even talk about it in class. Yay, Texas!
I'd like to say it is BS that schools are open for Columbus and Vetrans day. They could teach but don't! Also no President day or Easter break! However Martin L King and deer hunting opening days are off. This is BS!
Well, since Veterans Day was on Saturday this year, you didn't need a day off school :) (fellow Texan here)
Awe what a shame! :(
Well isn't that clever?
I'd love to see this.
It's like the Egyptian sun temple!
And Newgrange in Ireland. Really makes you appreciate what they did back them more.
Majestic
Woah that’s awesome!
What about daylight savings time? Also, sorry to burst your bubble, but unless the date is June or December 18, the sun will shine at that particular angle twice a year.
you cant be serious? they dont observe daylight savings in arizona
Ummm, actually, there would be the equivalent day after the winter solstice too, 41 day past, to be (almost) exact. That would be approx January the 31st. Why I said "almost" is that this will vary anyway, thanks to the Leap Year Cycle. The precise timing will vary by upwards of a whole day. There'll be exactly ONE day every four years when the sun exactly aligns at that exact hour and minute. Cute idea, messed up by some inescapable astronomical realities.
That is SUPER cool. And Happy Veterans' Day to all the vets out there!
Question. So in every other day can you still see the seal? Or not.
Looks like sun light will make a perfect circle of light the size of the emblem on the ground. The emblem is always there.
That is considerably less interesting than if, say, each hole had a glass filter with an image on it that formed the emblem.
Lovely!
What a wonderful way to honour War Veterans.
Beautiful Tribute to the Armed Services
so fucking awesome and creative
I don't see it
SRAMLNS +
A meticulous brilliance...
The sun is so far away and the earth rotates as we both hurl through space so fast it's incredible to me how consistent it all is that they can get that light to within a couple centimetres year after year.
Very cool, amazing way to show respect&remember
That's really cool. Hardly a beauty though.
this is so cool!!
I cannot understand why the Fox News did not report this yesterday and build it up for everyone to observe this happening today. Of all the great programs planned for our veterans, this should be historical
How do leap years figure into this?
This is an amazing tribute to the men and women who are serving or have done military service for their country. The only issue is that their are proposals to start a United States Space Force. This monument may have to have a sixth pillar at some point in the future.
Excellent
And then it's a rainy day without sun 😅
This should happen twice a year, about 30 days before (Veterans Day) AND after the winter solstice.
Are you saying it should, or does?
Rokas L ... Sadly you left out the Army in your description in the second paragraph above :( "Those include the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force and the United States Coast Guard." Capture-5a...770b7f.jpg
Yes, thank you for noticing and saying something!!!
It will do so twice a year also in spring it will
I’m really sorry for commenting here but I didn’t know where else to say this. What’s wrong with my profile picture? I can’t change it anymore for some reason.
This comment has been deleted.
No, I use IOS, so no, I didn’t change the location. I can try logging in on my computer though
I don’t know why it’s all white. Are you guys seeing this too?
It looks like you don't have any picture. All white, without frame.
This comment has been deleted.
Jep looks white for me to
Hidden message? This is a glorified spotlight. I was hoping that it would reveal a message written in shadow or something. Great idea honoring heroes, but perhaps the heading shouldn't be so misleading.
I see the title has been changed. Much better!
why do you have to be so negative
Scenic Ranch SE Arizona $595WK~ $695WK 360 Mt Views, 3 Ghost Towns and 2 National Parks. Tons of history to explore. 14 Vineyards close by to enjoy. Tombstone, Willcox, Benson are a short drive from Ranch. Website~ http://hummingbirdranchaz.com
fucking B 8hxbqpxr0i...71-png.jpg
11:11, you say? Well, Eleven DID have magical powers...
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
HEY YOU FORGOT TO MENTION ARMY! PROOF READ YOUR ARTICLES
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
USA!