What is a Major Lunar Standstill? The Sun follows a cycle that takes place roughly over the course of a year, but the Moon’s cycle is more rapid. Moonrise and moonset move from their northernmost to southernmost limits and back again in the course of about a month – but the movements of the Moon have another cycle. The outer limits of the moonrise and moonset change over a period of about 18.6 years. A major lunar standstill is when the northernmost and southernmost moonrise and moonset are furthest apart. This astrological phenomenon makes 2024 a special year as this once-in-a-generation celestial event begins to present itself. What makes it even more rare is that the beginning of this particular cycle, starting with a full moon, coincided with the summer solstice! (And the chance of a full moon falling on a summer solstice is very rare in itself!)
On a major lunar standstill, the moon rises and sets in a place on the horizon that the sun never reaches. In ancient times, the event might have sparked celebrations of religious, spiritual and social significance. It would have been important for farming communities, who used horizon calendars for planting and harvesting. The appearance of the moon further north and south than the extremes of the sun may have been highly significant.
Scholars believe that the earliest calendars were based on the phases of the moon. For ancient people, the light of the moon would have been useful at night, extending the time available for work and allowing for night-time hunting. In addition, the regularity of the cycle of the lunar phases – from Dark Moon to Full Moon and back again – provided an ideal way to mark the passage of time.
The last time the Moon’s major standstill was marked was 2006, and it is due to happen again in 2025 – but the major standstill season starts this year, when it will be close enough to its 2025 position for the phenomenon to be witnessed. English Heritage live-streamed the beginning of the event at Stonehenge on the summer solstice in late June.
There are various significant dates throughout this event, running until the 1st of September 2025. Interestingly, the four Station Stones at Stonehenge align with two of the Moon’s extreme positions, and there is much debate as to whether this was deliberate, and if so, what might have been the purpose. A team of archaeoastronomers will be exploring the complex relationship between the landscape, stones and the Moon over the course of this standstill.
This summer, July 21st and August 19th saw full moons over the UK. The August full moon was a seasonal Blue Moon, being the ‘extra’ full moon in one season.
One thing is for sure, whenever there is a visible full moon over Camber, it makes for an amazing sight, glistening over the sea and our beautiful beach!
