“Lunar standstill“ takes place over the weekend; understand what lunistice is

Starting this Friday (21), the Moon should spend more time shining in the sky thanks to lunisticea phenomenon that occurs approximately every 18 years.

The phenomenon is nicknamed “lunar standstill” because, as the Moon rises and sets in more distant points in the sky, it remains visible for longer, creating the impression that the satellite is “paralyzed” in the same place throughout the night.

What is lunistice?

Like the Sun, the Moon rises in the east and sets in the west. However, unlike the Sun, the Moon’s rise and set shift more north or south throughout the month and over the years.

And every lunar cycle of 18.6 years, the satellite rises at the most extreme point to the north and sets at the most extreme point to the south — causing the so-called “standstill of the Moon”, which remains visible in the sky for longer.

The last time a lunistice occurred was in 2006, but it doesn’t just last a weekend, and should continue to be observed until 2025.

How to observe the lunistice?

To understand the phenomenon and glimpse the “lunar standstill”, the best thing to do is observe the sky throughout the year and notice the changes, even if subtle, in the place where the Moon rises and sets.

However, the 2024 lunistice will only be visible from the Northern Hemisphere and cannot be observed from Brazil.

For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, however, the beginning of the phenomenon still coincides with the Summer Solstice, making the date even more special.

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