A rare lunar event may potentially uncover a connection between Stonehenge, the famous prehistoric monument in England, and the moon. An eclipse-like event known as a lunar standstill, which only happens once every 18.6 years, marks the moon at its lowest point in the sky.
Astro-archaeologists have long suspected that this event was significant to the builders of Stonehenge, as they had a deep understanding and respect for celestial events. The monument’s layout, with its large stones aligned along certain astronomical pathways, suggests as such.
During a lunar standstill, at its extreme position it appears to hover above one of Stonehenge’s large ‘station stones’. Some researchers argue this is deliberate, and that Stonehenge was built partially to mark the lunar standstill events. This theory is part of a larger debate over whether Stonehenge might have been an ancient astronomical observatory.
However, critics believe this alignment is purely coincidental. To settle this argument, further evidence and research need to be conducted. Nonetheless, this rare lunar event is a perfect opportunity for both astronomers and archaeologists to delve deeper into this mysterious monument’s celestial connections.
