The Major Lunar Standstill

The Supermassive Podcast

Izzie Clarke

Astronomy, History, Science, Physics

4.6 • 556 Ratings

🗓️ 4 June 2024

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Every 18.6 years, our moon reaches its farthest northern and southern point, known as a major lunar standstill. This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring why this might be significant to Stonehenge in the UK and another historical site in the US called Chimney Rock. With special thanks to Dr Heather Sebire, Dr Amanda Chadburn and Dr Erica Ellingson.

The southernmost Moonrise at Stonehenge will be livestreamed, allowing viewers to witness this celestial spectacle firsthand. Plus, there'll be events throughout the standstill season which include talks, a pop-up planetarium, stargazing sessions, storytelling, and a new exhibition display at the Stonehenge visitor centre in October. To find out more, visit...
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/major-lunar-standstill/#:~:text=Stonehenge%20is%20famous%20for%20its,'major%20lunar%20standstill'%20occurs.

Or have a look at Chimney Rock in Colorado:
https://www.chimneyrockco.org/puebloan-resources/lunar-standstill/

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Oh wow, the moon is actually unusually high in the sky or unusually low.
0:04.8	The moon's orbit isn't a perfect circle. It's oval shape.
0:08.1	Can we just talk about phases of the moon?
0:13.0	Hello and welcome to the supermassive podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society with me,
0:19.2	science journalist, Izzy Clark and astroysicist Dr. Becky Smeda.
0:23.5	This month, we're becoming archaeo astronomers as we explore a special event called the Lunar Standstill.
0:30.7	What is it? What does it have to do with significant cultural and historical sites around the world?
0:35.3	Yeah, so we'll get on to that very shortly because we'll be joined by the senior
0:39.7	property curator of Stonehenge for English Heritage, Heather Sabir, as well as Dr.
0:45.1	Erica Ellingson, astro-archologist from University of Colorado at the historical site in the
0:51.8	US chimney rock.
0:53.7	Astroarchologist is just a really cool job title, isn't it?
0:57.2	Like, I kind of feel like they give us a run for our money as an astrophysicist.
1:01.4	I know, I know.
1:02.9	So, well, to be honest, I have been speaking to many astro-archologists and archaeo-astronomers.
1:09.7	And it just makes you think, like, oh, my gosh, you've combined two fields that both blow my mind.
1:14.3	You somehow emerged like space and dinosaurs in my head.
1:17.7	Yes, yeah, basically.
1:20.3	Not quite, but yeah, almost.
1:22.3	And as ever, we have the expertise of Dr. Robert Massey,
1:25.7	the deputy director of the Royal Astronomical Society.
1:29.2	Let's get into this immediately. What is the lunar standstill? Well, the lunar standstill happens
	...

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