“Lunar standstill“: find out how to see the phenomenon live this Friday (21)

A “lunar standstill” starts to occur from this Friday (21st) and, even though the phenomenon is only observable in the Northern Hemisphere, it is also possible to follow it online.

O lunistice It occurs approximately every 18 years and may be observed until mid-2025, peaking in January of next year.

The phenomenon is known as “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 over 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 follow the lunistice?

The 2024 lunistice will only be visible from the Northern Hemisphere and cannot be observed in the Brazilian sky.

However, a live stream directly from Stonehengein England, gives the opportunity to see the trajectory of the Moon on Friday night (21).

Broadcast starts at 5:30 pm, Brasília time, this Friday and you can follow it here:

The choice of location comes shortly after the release of a study that suggests that the construction of the Stonehenge monument — shrouded in many mysteries — would be linked to the movement of the Moon in the sky and specifically to the lunistice.

Researchers at the University of Leicester in England are investigating the fact that part of the stones at Stonehenge align perfectly with the edges of the Moon during the period of lunar standstill.

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