N-COUNTThesummer solstice is the day of the year with the most hours of daylight, and thewinter solstice is the day of the year with the fewest hours of daylight. 至日
Torrey says he was lucky to visit it not once,but twice, at the June and December solstices.
VOA: standard.2009.12.15
They studied the sky. Their temples were aligned with the solstices.
VOA: standard.2009.12.15
Also, the observation of basic astronomical events would appear to have been practised, as many of the monuments have alignments that lend themselves to the solstices.
Notably, every 18.6 years, during the northern lunar standstill, the moonrise is aligned with the sites two rock pinnacles, as well as during the summer and winter solstices, and the fall and spring equinoxes.