JILA marked the summer solstice with a unique celebration in the X-wing basement, a space ingeniously designed to allow sunlight to illuminate its floor at midday on this special day. This architectural feature transformed the basement into a sunlit patio for a few brief minutes, allowing JILA Fellows like Eric Cornell to do a quick experiment on the architecture. 

“It turns out that JILA was constructed to be a modern-day Stonehenge," explains Cornell, a NIST Fellow and University of Colorado Boulder Physics professor. "In previous years, JILA's astronomers have had trouble interpreting the portents because of multiple-reflected overlapping light beams arriving in the basement." 

To overcome this issue, Cornell's research team, led by undergraduate researcher Rohan Kompella, created a series of precision apertures made of cardboard to separate the light beams, making it easier to see the sun's refraction pattern. The first light passed through the apertures at around 1 pm, with the maximum effect at around 1:03 pm. 

Unfortunately, a group of clouds passed overhead at around 1:04 pm, making the large crowd gasp and boo in response. After a minute, the clouds passed, and the audience continued to enjoy Cornell's and his team's experiment for a few more moments before the sun moved from the basement. 

The event was a modern-day astronomical marvel, briefly transforming the X-wing basement into a sunlit haven and offering attendees a rare and awe-inspiring experience.

Written by Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, JILA Science Communicator