Both Earth and the moon will be at their maximum tilts during this event.
Researchers believe that Stonehenge may have been designed to mark lunar events, specifically major lunar standstills.
Stonehenge will experience a major lunar standstill on June 21, 2023.
The alignment of Stonehenge's structures with the direction of the southernmost moonrise is significant.
The next major lunar standstill is expected to last until January 2025.
A unique celestial event, known as a 'major lunar standstill,' is set to occur at Stonehenge on June 21, 2023. During this phenomenon, both Earth and the moon are at their maximum tilts. This alignment will result in significant alignments between Stonehenge's structures and the direction of the southernmost moonrise.
The ancient monument is renowned for its alignment with the sun during solstices, but researchers believe that it may also have been designed to mark lunar events. The four 'station stones' at Stonehenge are thought to be aligned with the setting moon outside of the circle during a major lunar standstill.
This rare event occurs approximately halfway between two major lunar standstills, which happen every 18.6 years. Researchers from various institutions, including the University of Leicester and English Heritage, are investigating this potential alignment to gain further insights into the monument's purpose and significance.
The next major lunar standstill is expected to last until January 2025. Heather Sebire, senior property curator of Stonehenge, believes that the moon was essential to ancient people due to its full moon providing extra light for activities. The investigation invites people to join in by attending events and watching a livestream of the lunar standstill moonrise online.
Stonehenge is not alone in this celestial alignment phenomenon. Similar alignments have been observed at other ancient sites, such as Chimney Rock in Colorado and various Hopewell Sites and Chaco Canyon in New Mexico.
Moon rises and sets at its most extreme points on the horizon during a major lunar standstill
First major lunar standstice since 2006
Stonehenge’s four Station Stones align with the moon’s extreme positions during a major lunar standstill
Accuracy
Major lunar standstill happening on June 21, 2024 in the northern hemisphere
Deception
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The article contains some minor instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority, but no formal or egregious fallacies are present. The author provides accurate information about the major lunar standstill event and its significance to Stonehenge.
][Clive Ruggles, emeritus professor of archaeoastronomy at Leicester University][] said 'Stonehenge’s architectural connection to the Sun is well known, but its link with the moon is less well understood.'
'][Dr. Amanda Chadburn at the University of Oxford’s Kellogg College][] said 'We want to understand something of what it was like to experience these extreme moonrises and sets and to witness their visual effects on the stones—for example, patterns of light and shadow—and consider modern influences like traffic and trees, and to document all of this through photography for future study.'
Archaeologists think there may be a connection between the earliest construction phase of Stonehenge and the Moon, specifically the southernmost major standstill moonrise.
Great House of Chimney Rock in Colorado has evidence of people marking major lunar standstill around AD1018 to AD1093.
Accuracy
Stonehenge is best known for its solar alignments during midsummer and midwinter solstices.
The shorter sides of a rectangle formed by two station stones are parallel to the main axis of the stone circle, suggesting they may align with lunar standstill.
During major lunar standstill, moonrise (or set) is furthest from sunrise (or set).
Stonehenge is being investigated for alignment with the Moon during the lunar standstill.
Researchers will be visiting Stonehenge several times over the coming months to understand potential alignment between the monument and the Moon.
The next major lunar standstill will go on until January 2025.
Heather Sebire, senior property curator of Stonehenge, believes that the moon was important to ancient people due to its full moon providing extra light for activities.
There are four outlying stones known as ‘station stones’ at Stonehenge and researchers think they might have something to do with the setting outside of the circle.
Stonehenge is inviting people to join in the investigation by attending events and watching a livestream of the lunar standstill moonrise online.
Accuracy
Moon rises and sets at its most extreme points on the horizon during a major lunar standstill.
