Lunistice
Full Moon Trajectory at Lunistice Wednesday 11-6-2025 from Moonrise to Moonset, at Amman By Ammar Sakaji Moonrise (Az=124 degrees) Highest altitude (30 degrees) A major lunar standstill occurs when the Moon reaches its furthest northern and southern points during its monthly cycle. This phenomenon happens every 18.6 years , marking the peak of the lunar node cycle. At this time, the Moon's extreme northerly and southerly moonrise and moonset positions are at their greatest distance apart. The term lunar standstill—also known as lunistice —refers to the Moon's most extreme northern and southern declination. This is part of an 18.6-year cycle caused by the fact that the Earth's axial tilt and the Moon's orbital plane do not remain perfectly aligned. Over this cycle, the Moon's orbit reaches its most pronounced inclination relative to Earth, resulting in greater extremes in where the Moon appears in the sky. During a major lunar standstill,...