Winter solstice means 'illumination' at California mission
Friday, December 23, 2011 - 14:00
in Astronomy & Space
A sunbeam briefly pierces a doorway, bathing the altar in light. A scholar thinks friars built the mission and dozens of other churches to capture such events on days key to Indians, but critics scoff.Reporting from San Juan Bautista, Calif. -- On the darkest day of the year, a hushed crowd in a dim church awaited a few minutes of sheer brilliance.