Solar Reflection Geometry of the Great Pyramid of Giza: A Proposed Optical Alignment with the Richat Structure, Mauritania

A novel analysis reveals that the Great Pyramid of Giza's western face, when illuminated at a specific solar elevation (13.6°), reflects sunlight horizontally toward the Richat Structure ('Eye of the Sahara') in Mauritania with remarkable precision—deviating only 2.84° from due west. This alignment, calculated using spherical geometry and solar optics, suggests intentional optical design. Two ancient sites, Siwa Oasis (Egypt) and Tassili n'Ajjer (Algeria), lie along the same bearing between Giza and Richat, further supporting this hypothesis. The study proposes that these geometric relationships warrant physical investigation of the Richat Structure and its potential cultural or astronomical significance.

Rios Jr, A. (2026). Solar Reflection Geometry of the Great Pyramid of Giza: A Proposed Optical Alignment with the Richat Structure, Mauritania. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.19262108