ViewTube

These are some maximum angle observations I'd love to see at Loughcrew Cairn S.  (same dates from year to year) Depending on how long the passage originally was not all these angles might have reached the chamber but getting all the data is the first step.  See this wonderful ancient site in this Mythical Ireland film:   https://youtu.be/ZNrigPnGhOk?si=wywLi... 

https://youtu.be/ZNrigPnGhOk?si=wywLi... 

NORTH Major Lunar Standstill (map of selected sites)
 https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1UkieIK2GbnIaN3wAHNyuTqCavVgkIe0&usp=sharing&entry=yt 

SOUTHMajor Lunar Standstill (map of selected sites)
 https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1npNU2XdbnGUUZS3grhEUe-zUfnVSLjU&usp=sharing&entry=yt 

More info/help for observing lunar standstills:
 https://www.exploreglobe.net/major-lunar-standstill.html 

Archaeoastronomy Database Maps of selected sites with Major Lunar Standstill alignments have been released!  See channel links for more info. 

Northern Major Lunar Standstill


🌔 The waxing gibbous moon of 19 February 2024 will be best visible SETTING (in the early morning hours for most locations) at the greatest northern standstill so far this cycle (even greater yet to come). With such an illuminated phase it can also be well visible when RISING a few hours later around midday.

Here are some suggested sites for observing this moon SET:

Carrowkeel Cairn B (passage tomb)
Carrowkeel, Sligo, Ireland
54.053, -8.390663
Observe how moonlight falls in the small gap between the first and second sill stones and the nearby orthostats.

Carrowkeel Cairn E (court tomb)
Carrowkeel, Sligo, Ireland
54.05319, -8.383643
Observe the position of the setting moon from the back of the chamber looking outward through the entrance. If it is a bright phase in darkness also observe the light/shadow within the chamber. Also, if possible, observe the moon from outside along the axis of the cairn, or record observer shadow at the moment of moonset along the cairn axis.

Carrowkeel Cairn F (passage tomb)
Carrowkeel, Sligo, Ireland
54.051164, -8.383391
Observe the position of the setting moon from the back of the chamber looking outward through the entrance. If it is a bright phase in darkness also observe the light/shadow within the chamber. Also, if possible, observe the moon from outside along the axis of the cairn, or record observer shadow at the moment of moonset along the cairn axis.

Carrowkeel Cairn G (passage tomb)
Carrowkeel, Sligo, Ireland
54.056086, -8.377753
Observe from the rear recess where the moon appears in the roof box slit. If possible record how moonlight falls in the chamber and recess.

Carrowkeel Cairn H (passage tomb)
Carrowkeel, Sligo, Ireland
54.055462, -8.37786
Observe and record exactly where light hits in the passage as the moon sets at the maximum northern position. A timestamp is imperative to go with the observation. Space is tight so a camera might have to be placed and set to record.

Carrowkeel Cairn K (passage tomb)
Carrowkeel, Sligo, Ireland
54.054251, -8.377341
Observe moonlight striking the corner orthostat of the main chamber (if it indeed reaches that far) or where light strikes in general as well as a view of the moon back out through the entrance. Timestamps for photos will help determine angles.

Arbor Low
Derbyshire, England, UK
53.168923, -1.761646
Record moonset from approximate center of the stone circle/henge looking through NW entrance. It might be best to have some soft light on the banks and stones of the entrance or place markers or have people stand at the positions of the two entrance stones. Try multiple vantages moving back from center to the opposite side of the circle always looking northwest and keeping the moon just left of what would be considered a more central line (as the modern moon can't reach as far north as in the past).

Thornborough (henge)
Yorkshire, England, UK
54.209479, -1.563266
From a position centered between the banks of the SE entrance of the central henge (just north of the road) document moonset at/near maximum. It will set into the trees of the northern henge. Ideally capture multiple photos from a tripod as the moon sets to record the angle that can be calculated through the trees.

Ballynoe
Down, Northern Ireland, UK
54.290304, -5.726955
From the stone at the coordinates for this entry (54.290304, -5.726955) looking northwest (azimuth 321.5) toward another nearby stone here: (54.290523, -5.727245)


Drift Stones (standing stone pair)
Cornwall, UK
50.099439, -5.585137
From the southeast stone (50.099439, -5.585137) look toward the other stone and observe moonset. Also see if the shadow of the other stone falls on this stone. Also try a view from further back with both stones in the shot.


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NOTE: The following day of 20 February the moon is still in much the same position (hence at standstill) and would be well worth observing when setting as an alternative or at another site.


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Here are some suggested sites for observing this moon RISE:


Carrowkeel Cairn B (passage tomb)
Carrowkeel, Sligo, Ireland
54.053048, -8.390571
Observe from outside the tomb on the NE side looking toward Carrowkeel Cairn D (54.057167, -8.385120) to see where the moon rises in relation to the cairn.

Carrowkeel Cairn R, Cairnaweeleen, Cairn of the Little Bald Hill (passage tomb)
Carrowkeel, Sligo, Ireland
54.067473, -8.433175
Observe and record exactly where light hits in the ruined passage as the moon sets at the maximum northern position and/or record from low in the ruined passage to show the stones and the moon on the horizon. A timestamp is imperative to go with the observation.

Ballynoe
Down, Northern Ireland, UK
54.290942, -5.725747
From the stone at the coordinates for this entry (54.290942, -5.725747) looking northeast (azimuth 37.48) toward another nearby (fallen?) stone here: (54.291162, -5.725476)

Beaghmore
Tyrone, Northern Ireland, UK
54.701649, -6.938182
At the easternmost group of stone rows, stand at the southwest end of the shorter row of 4 taller stones (NOT the longer row of taller stones) looking toward the northeast (see video) ALSO: Four other rows at the site likely match this alignment at these coordinates: (54.701639, -6.938982) (54.701552, -6.938714) (54.700968, -6.939284) With extra planning/resources all could be documented.

Tirghoil (standing stone)
Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK
56.320081, -6.282192
From the location of the stone, the maximum northern moonrise at major lunar standstill will appear at the foot of a steep cliff/slope before disappearing behind it, only to reappear again. Capture multiple photos, video and or timelapse if possible as well.



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Please comment with questions on details of what to observe at these sites in connection with this moonrise, or with other observation site ideas.


Please consider supporting the Archaeoastronomy Database to help in providing this information.

As always, observers must exercise responsibility and safety at all times regarding travel and site access.
Seek permissions where needed and always treat ancient sites with the utmost care and respect.

Observation resources:   https://www.exploreglobe.net/major-lunar-standstill.html 

 #lunarstandstill   #majorlunarstandstill   #moonset   #moonrise 

Mound B looking toward Newgrange on 25 January 2024 as a lunar proxy for Neolithic Summer Solstice Sunset: 

The Archaeoastronomy Database YouTube Channel now has SHORTS:
 https://www.youtube.com/@ArchaeoastronomyDatabase/shorts 

I made an animated SHORT showing lunar declination range over the 18.6 year standstill cycle:
 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/k64lJr... 

Please help support the Archaeoastronomy Database in providing this sort of information:
 https://www.patreon.com/posts/observing-major-96617901?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link 

More Major Lunar Standstill dates, info, and resources:   https://www.exploreglobe.net/major-lunar-standstill.html