Heritage Malta will be marking the Spring Equinox with an early-morning guided tour of the Mnajdra Temples.

At sunrise on Monday, participants will be able to experience the sun’s rays shining right through the exact centre of the South Temple’s main doorway.

Translated literally, equinox means “equal night” as, since the sun is positioned above the equator, during an equinox day and night are more or less equal in length all over the world. On the Spring Equinox the sun rises exactly in the east, travels through the sky for 12 hours and sets exactly in the west.

However, as we welcome spring, people south of the equator will be gearing up for the cooler temperatures of autumn.

Although there is no clear evidence to prove this, it is very probable that our ancestors were aware of this astronomical indicator when they designed the Mnajdra Temples.

Only a limited number of 40 participants will be allowed to join this tour, which will start at the temple at 6.30am.

Tickets are exclusively available at Heritage Malta’s Head Office in Valletta for the price of Lm5 up until Friday 17 March.

Another astronomical marvel will be the Solar Eclipse on March 29. For this occasion, Heritage Malta is offering a special-priced ticket of Lm4 (Seniors - Lm3) with which one can visit the megalithic temples of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien, Ta’ Hagrat u Skorba between 28 and 30 March.

Ta’ Hagrat and Skorba Temples are usually open to the public once a week but will be open all three days for this special event.

For any further information please call on 22954312.