Dozens of sunset photographers gathered under the Scripps Pier in La Jolla on Aug. 9 for a twice-a-year phenomenon known as “Scripphenge.”
Named for a similar occurrence at Stonehenge in the United Kingdom, Scrippshenge occurs when the sun sets directly between the back pillars of the 300-meter Scripps Pier. The first Scrippshenge of the year took place on May 2.
The reason for this occurrence, said Scripps Institution of Oceanography geoscientist James Day, is because the planet is tilting on its axis.
Thus, he explained, “During the summer here in the northern hemisphere, its (axis is) pointing towards the sun and in the winter, it’s pointing away. Because of that, we see the sun setting twice a year between these wonderful (pillars).”