An ‘unusual’ astronomical event could reveal links between Stonehenge and the Moon

England – The monument “Stonehenge” in England is famous for its alignment with the sunset in the middle of winter and the sunrise in the middle of summer.

But 5,000 years ago, the ancient monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire may also have been carefully built with our moon in mind.

Experts believe that some of the famous upright stones were arranged to align with the moon during an event called the “major lunar standstill.”

This happens only once every 18.6 years, when the moonrise and sunset reach the furthest point from each other along the horizon, as seen from Earth.

Thousands of years ago, the ancient Britons may have been practicing their religious rituals at the site during the “Great Lunar Recession,” just as they did at the summer and winter solstice.

British researchers launched a project to try to understand the relationship between the rocks that make up the prehistoric Stonehenge monument and the “Great Lunar Recession,” led by experts at the universities of Oxford, Leicester and Bournemouth.

Dr Fabio Silva, senior lecturer in archaeological modeling at Bournemouth University, said this “lunar great recession season” would run from February 2024 to November 2025.

Adding: “This happens twice a month for a period ranging from one and a half to two years. For example, last Saturday, the moon was at its northernmost point, and in two weeks it will be at its southernmost point. This will repeat every month for the rest of 2024 and most of 2025.”

How the Moon aligns with the individual stones of Stonehenge has yet to be seen. But experts believe that during the Great Lunar Recession, the Moon will be in alignment with the ancient Station Stones at Stonehenge.

Although only two of these stones still stand today, these stones defined the corners of a perfect rectangle with a central point at the exact center of the monument.

One side of this rectangle appears to point in the southeast direction, which corresponds to where the Moon will rise during the Great Lunar Recession.

“We want to evaluate whether this was likely by chance or whether it was intentional,” Dr. Silva said.

This study provides an opportunity for scientists to delve deeper into the ancient secrets of the monument and its relationship to celestial phenomena, and to explore theories surrounding the “Great Lunar Recession” event and the ancient people of Stonehenge.

Some experts believe that the people who built the monument were aware of the “Great Lunar Recession” and may have buried their dead in a certain part of the site because of its connection to the phenomenon.

Source: Daily Mail