Astronomical Alignment
In 1998, University of Rhode Island astronomy professor William Penhallow decided to investigate the position of the tower's various and oddly-shaped windows for possible astronomical alignments. It is well known that before the time of modern-day calendars, the sun's position would be used to determine the days and months, and to find specific religious holidays and planting and harvesting times. His studies found that the three largest windows seem to have some tie to the sun and the moon. At the summer solstice, the setting sun shines through the west window and into a niche in the inner wall, next to the south window. The sun shines through only on this day, helping to mark the calendar.
The most compelling information about this theory comes from the Chronognostic Research Foundation. They have found that, "From inside the Tower, on its first wooden floor, a person of about five feet five inches tall, standing in front of a point marked on the sill of the south window, could see the summit of Miantonomi Hill through the very small north window."
By using this line as the north-south bisecting line, it is easy to find east and west, which mark the vernal and autumnal equinoxes – March 21st and September 21st. During both equinoxes, day and night are of equal length – both 12 hours and the sun rises due east and sets due west, directly on the bisecting line.
To determine the solstices, the same person would need to stand at the sill of the south window and look through the west window. The west window is splayed like this: > < so when you stand at the south window, you cannot see a full window, but a slot. On one day of the year – June 21st, the summer solstice, you can see a spectacular sunset visible from inside the tower through the splayed window.
By determining these days, the builder could, theoretically, establish the proper timing for planting crops and the dates for the movable feasts of the Christian church.
- Arguments against the Astronomical Theory will be updated as more research takes place.