The path of the ecliptic vs the orbit of the Moon on ‘shallow’ and ‘steep’ years. Image credit: Dave Dickinson
Posted on 09/15/2015 4:41:55 PM PDT by BenLurkin
[T]he Moon has provided humanity with a fine crash course in Celestial Mechanics 101.
Take the Moon’s path in the Fall of 2015 as a peculiar case in point. In fact, we’re nearing what’s known as a minor lunar standstill over the next lunation, the first of the 21st century.
The term lunar standstill is kind of a misnomer. The Moon will continue in its orbit around the Earth like it always does. What’s interesting to note, however, is how shallow the apparent path of the Moon currently is with respect to the ecliptic this year. A technical lunar standstill – the point at which the Moon seems to reverse course from north to south and vice versa – occurs twice a lunation… but not all lunar standstills are created equal.
The approximately five degree tilt of the Moon’s path around the Earth with respect to the path of the Earth around the Sun assures that the Moon can actually appear anywhere from 23.5 degrees (the tilt of the Earth’s axis with respect to the ecliptic) plus five degrees above or below the celestial equator, or 28.5 degrees declination north to south.
Such a ‘hilly year’ happens once every 18.6 years, and last occurred in 2006, and won’t take place again until 2025. This orbital phenomenon also results in what’s known as a ‘long nights moon’ when the Full Moon nearest the winter solstice rides high in the sky near the spot the summer Sun occupied six months earlier, and will do so again six months hence.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
I have a mad urge to howl...
Such a ‘hilly year’ happens once every 18.6 years, and last occurred in 2006, and won’t take place again until 2025.
Is my math off here, or is this a typo? Accidental 1 placement?
i'm right there with ya... 
There will be signs in the sky....
Actually there was an illuminated sign in the sky above my first apartment that blocked my view of the sky.
Heh.
;)
2006 to 2025 is 19 years. They say 18.6 years, so the years could be right (depending on which months in 2006 and 2025 they are talking about).
Well that makes sense, but wasn’t the point of the article that we’re have a Lunar Standstill now?
Or am I still missing something?
Is it that the entire cycle takes 18.6 years, but the actual peak is occurring now?
Sorry, not trying to be dense, just trying to understand.
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