In addition to the April 8 total solar eclipse and vibrant displays of auroras, there's another celestial treat for skywatchers this year: the first "major lunar standstill" since 2006. During this event, the moon rises and sets at its most extreme northerly and southerly positions on the horizon, reaching its highest and lowest points in the 18.6-year lunar cycle.
This is possible because the moon doesn't follow the same path as the sun. Its rising and setting positions on the horizon change constantly due to the movements of Earth and the moon. The solar system is flat, with the planets orbiting the sun on the same plane, known as the ecliptic. Earth rotates on an axis tilted by 23.4 degrees with respect to this ecliptic, causing the sun to rise and set within almost 47 degrees — a range it gradually covers over an entire year. The moon's orbit is tilted by 5.1 degrees relative to the ecliptic, allowing it to rise and set within a 57-degree range in any given month.
This explains why the moon can sometimes rise and set at points on the horizon farther north and south than the sun can.
A major lunar standstill, or lunistice, occurs when the tilts of both Earth and the moon are at their maximum. During this period, the moon rises and sets at the extremes of its range. It rises at its very highest northeasterly point and sets at its very highest northwesterly point. During this period, it also rises at its most southeasterly point and sets at its most southwesterly point.
Related: Full moon calendar 2024: When to see the next full moon
The major lunar standstill significantly affects how long the moon is in the sky at night. A moon rising farthest northeast in the Northern Hemisphere climbs higher into the sky and stays in the sky longer. It shines in a noticeably different position than during a minor lunar standstill, when the range of where it rises and sets is at its narrowest. Historical sites such as Stonehenge, Callanish and Newgrange appear to be aligned with moonrise and moonset points during a major lunar standstill, indicating the celestial event’s past importance.
This major lunar standstill will be at its most extreme around the equinoxes in September 2024 and March 2025. However, visibility depends on the moon's phase, your location and the weather. Good times to look include when the moon rises and the sun sets, and vice versa, during a full moon.
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On June 21, the sun will rise and set at its most northeasterly and northwesterly points, while the full Strawberry Moon will rise and set at its most northeasterly and northwesterly points. Conversely, on Dec. 15, the sun will rise and set at its most southeasterly and southwesterly points, while the full Cold Moon will rise and set at its most northwesterly and northeasterly points.
To observe these phenomena, watch from exactly the same location, and you'll notice a big difference. A pair of stargazing binoculars or a good backyard telescope aren't necessary to notice the effect, but they may help you zoom in on Earth's fully-illuminated satellite to get the most out of your lunar skywatching.
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Jamie Carter
Contributing Writer
Jamie is an experienced science, technology and travel journalist and stargazer who writes about exploring the night sky, solar and lunar eclipses, moon-gazing, astro-travel, astronomy and space exploration. He is the editor ofWhenIsTheNextEclipse.comand authorofA Stargazing Program For Beginners, and is a senior contributor at Forbes. His special skill is turning tech-babble into plain English.
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13 CommentsComment from the forums
billslugg "In addition to the April 8 total solar eclipse and vibrant displays of auroras, there's another celestial treat for skywatchers this year: the first "major lunar standstill" since 2006. During this event, the moon rises and sets at its most extreme northerly and southerly positions on the horizon, reaching its highest and lowest points in the 18.6-year lunar cycle."
Someone is confused here. The phenomena of a standstill occurs at both extremes, northerly and southerly. During THIS event, it will be the southerly extreme. The article never gets around to telling us this.
The article makes no sense in places and never gets around to telling us the full story.
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OrionEridanus I am confused by these lines
During this period, the moon...rises at its very highest northeasterly point and sets at its very highest northwesterly point...it also rises at its most southeasterly point and sets at its most southwesterly point.
The implication being its highest northeasterly point = is most southeasterly point and same for northwesterly and southwesterly. That can't be right. I am assuming Bill Slugg's explantion is correct.Reply
billslugg Yes, the lunar standstills occur symmetrically around due east and also due west. During one type of lunar standstill, the Moon rises about 27 degrees north of due east and sets 27 degrees north of due west. In the other type, the one we are having today, the Moon rises 27 degrees south of due east and sets 27 degrees south of due west.
Those are nominal numbers. For my location today, the Moon rises 29° south of due east and it sets at 27° south of due west.
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DeOrbit From the following paragraph, I have no idea what I am looking for. Big difference in what? How long do I have to stand in the same spot to see the effect? The reference to binoculars and a "good backyard telescope," while not required, only serve to confuse the reader further. If I zoom into the moon, is the "phenomena" more or less obvious?
And why is the article illustrated with an image that makes reference to something that "will" (future tense) happen in the past?
The full Hunter's Moon will rise on Oct. 20, 2021. (Image credit: Space.com / Josh Dinner)
To observe these phenomena, watch from exactly the same location, and you'll notice a big difference. A pair of stargazing binoculars or a good backyard telescope aren't necessary to notice the effect, but they may help you zoom in on Earth's fully-illuminated satellite to get the most out of your lunar skywatching.Reply
Helio Where does the "standstill" term come from? Is this the top part of the pendulum swing view?
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billslugg The compass direction of the rising Moon changes every day. It moves in cycles. Every 18 years it is as far south as it can get and for a few days will not change, then it will creep north.
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Helio billslugg said:
The compass direction of the rising Moon changes every day. It moves in cycles. Every 18 years it is as far south as it can get and for a few days will not change, then it will creep north.That's what I thought. Thanks.
So do we say the Sun does a "standstill" twice a year for the same events?
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billslugg Helio said:
That's what I thought. Thanks.So do we say the Sun does a "standstill" twice a year for the same events?
Yes, the Sun also does it every year at the solstices.
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Classical Motion A harmony of inclinations.
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ed_ I feel have travelled back in time or to other dimension
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