AMHERST, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - A gathering at the UMass Amherst sun wheel over the weekend brought people together to celebrate the summer solstice and the legacy of a beloved astronomy professor.

The sun wheel is located in an empty field between Stadium Drive and Rocky Hill Road. If you visit, you’ll see a several tall stones that form a circle. It’s a solar calendar and tracks the cycles of the sun, moon, and stars.

Planning for the sun wheel began in the 1990s by UMass Professor Judy Young and the project was completed in the 2000s. Current UMass staff spoke on the impact Young had and the effort she put into creating the sun wheel. “She was such a beautiful person, always cared so much about the students, always cared so much about UMass and making it a better and better place,” said Grant Wilson, chair of the university’s astronomy department.

The sun wheel holds events every summer and winter solstice, as well as the spring and autumn equinox.

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