Every 18.6 years, the moon reaches its most extreme positions in a major lunar standstill. During this cycle, the moon rises lower than the winter solstice sun. The moon accomplishes in one month what the sun does in a year. When perigee coincides with a full moon at equinox, 'king tides' cause significant flooding. The Callanish stones in Scotland were aligned to track these rare lunar extremes, requiring 18+ years of continuous observation to map the cycles.
Lunar standstill cycles: 18.6-year moon phenomenon observed at ancient sites worldwide
Key facts
- The major lunar standstill occurs every 18.6 years when the moon reaches its lowest rise and set positions
- During major standstill, the moon rises lower than the winter solstice sun
- The moon completes in one month what the sun does in a year, making lunar cycles faster and more complex
- Perigee (closest moon) and apogee (furthest moon) occur monthly and affect tides significantly
- When perigee coincides with full moon and equinox sun, 'king tides' occur causing flooding
- Callanish stones in Scotland display the southern major standstill of the moon
- Chimney Rock in Colorado has a Pueblo viewing platform built specifically to observe lunar standstills through a natural rock portal
- Alexander Thom witnessed moon extremes during the minor standstill in the Outer Hebrides
Sources
Extreme Moon: The Major Lunar Standstills of 2024 - 2025griffithobservatory.lacity.gov
The major lunar standstill results from the rotation of the Moon's inclined orbit over an 18.6-year cycle. Because the greatest monthly excursion of the Moon ...
Lunar standstill - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The degree of lunar standstills changes over the course of 18.6 years ... In a year of a major lunar standstill, solar eclipses occur in March or April at ...
Stonehenge Major Lunar Standstill - English Heritageenglish-heritage.org.uk
The limits of moonrise and moonset change over a period of about 18.6 years. The major lunar standstill is when the northernmost and southernmost moonrise and ...
2024-2025 MAJOR LUNAR STANDSTILL - Cloudy Nightscloudynights.com
The 18.6-year cycle is caused by the precession of the plane of the lunar orbit, while this orbit maintains a 5 degree tilt relative to the ...
The 1st 'major lunar standstill' in more than 18 years is ... - Spacespace.com
A major lunar standstill is about to occur. The phenomenon happens every 18.6 years when the moon rises and sets at its most extreme points on the horizon.
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