Brenan Dew is  usually a guide at Sydney Observatory but he is currently overseas as a part the Macquarie Theban Tomb Project along with several of his colleagues from Macquarie University, excavating and recording the tomb of an official by the name of Amenmose who lived in the Ramesside period of ancient Egypt, some 3300 years ago. Brenan visited the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahari at sunrise on the winter solstice and on Christmas Day. You can read Brenan’s winter solstice post and here is some background to the famous tomb from Wikipedia.

Today’s post is a Christmas greeting from Brenan. Brenan’s ‘selfie’ (taken with a tripod) gives you a good idea of the size and scale of the temple. You can find out more about astronomical heritage, and many other interesting locations, on the UNESCO World heritage and International Astronomical Union site. You will find Sydney Observatory is listed. I hope you enjoy Brenan’s photo of his Christmas day expedition as much as I did.