The Antiquarian Society

Common lunar alignments

Paths of the moon through the years

The moon has a similar cycle to the sun except that it only takes one month (moonth!) to complete the cycle from northern lunistice to southern lunistice. There is an additional wobble to the moons movement however, called the lunar standstill cycle. At times of major lunar standstill the lunistices are at their most extreme. At times of minor lunar standstill the lunistices are at their least extreme. Standstill seasons last for about a year and the complete cycle takes about 18.6 years.
So there are 4 moonrise (and moonset) alignments that can be observed as follows;

Northern major lunar standstill (every month on major standstill years)
Southern major lunar standstill (every month on major standstill years)
Northern minor lunar standstill (every month on minor standstill years)
Southern minor lunar standstill (every month on minor standstill years)

<BACK	NEXT>