A rare ‘lunar standstill’ not seen since 2006 is visible TONIGHT

SKYGAZERS around the world are in for a celestial spectacle as a rare ‘lunar standstill’ takes place tonight.

For the first time in nearly two decades, the moon will regularly rise and set at its most extreme points, offering some of the most spectacular lunar views.

Known as the “Great Lunar Stagnation,” this natural phenomenon occurs only once every 18.6 years and lasts approximately two years.

It’s already happening and it’s in full glory under the full moon.

During this time, the Moon’s path in the sky will be more extreme than usual as it moves higher in the sky and lower until it reaches its farthest points in the north and south.

This means that if you watch where the moon rises and sets on the horizon, you’ll see it in places you’re not used to.

Normally, the moon’s declination—how far it moves north or south of the equator—changes.

It reaches its maximum range during the great lunar pause, ranging between about 28.6 degrees north and 28.6 degrees south.

In some places, the moon will remain visible for longer periods of time at night because it is higher in the sky.

These effects are caused by the inclination of the Moon’s orbit around the Earth, which is influenced by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Earth’s equator.

When the Moon is at a significant standstill, it accentuates these tilts, making the Moon’s movements more pronounced and noticeable.

Today’s full moon is set to provide extreme views of the lunar phenomenon as it will rise and set at its southernmost points and travel very low in the sky.

The current Great Moon Stagnation is said to peak in January next year, but can be seen in the next six dates this year.

Archaeologists will watch the moon appear over Stonehenge this evening as the historic site has a known connection to the Sun.

Scientists such as Fabio Silva from Bournemouth University will now investigate whether Stonehenge has a connection to the moon.

They studied the extremes of the Moon from Stonehenge, but Silva says the weather often got in the way.

Tonight’s full moon will therefore mark another big project opportunity.

Smithsonian Magazine said, “We had opportunities twice [a] months since February, but due to the weather we only managed to observe it three times.

“If we can observe it [on Friday]we are interested in where and when it first appears, how it will be framed by the stone circle as it moves across the sky, and to evaluate whether the alignment of the station stones and the main stationary moon was intentional or just a coincidence.

WHEN TO SEE THE LUNAR DETERMINATION

A major standstill on the moon is not something that happens in one day, but happens over time.

The last time we saw major stagnation was in 2006.

The next begins in 2024, when the declination of the Moon becomes more extreme.

Those who want an amazing view of the sky can watch the live stream of the southernmost moonrise at Stonehenge.

For keen sky watchers, the standoff is expected to be most extreme in late 2024 to early 2025.

The best time to observe the effects of the shutdown will be around the equinoxes in September 2024 and March 2025.

Equinoxes are when the lengths of days and nights are roughly equal.

If you regularly observe the Moon from the same location, you should notice significant changes in how it appears to move across the sky over the course of weeks and months.

The upcoming equinoxes are expected to be on September 22, 2024 and March 20, 2025.