Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Every 18.61 years, the swiveling orbit of the moon is tilted at its greatest angle to the earth’s orbit around the sun. When this occurs, the moon will, each month, rise and set as far north and as far south as it is ever seen. This circumstance is known as the major lunar standstill. It is taking place now, and it will continue through most of 2025. It has been argued that features at some ancient and prehistoric sites were deliberately aligned to these greatest monthly excursions of the moon. Chimney Rock National Monument, near Pagosa Springs in southwest Colorado, hosts a striking appearance of the major standstill northern moonrise between two distinctive and monumental rock pillars. This event is only visible from near a thousand-year-old Ancestral Pueblo Great House, and some believe that may explain why that sacred ceremonial building is there. Because the mountaintop can accommodate only a handful of eyewitnesses for the event, the United States Forest Service, Griffith Observatory, and Griffith Observatory Foundation will broadcast selected moonrises to a larger audience at the base of the mountain.
Disclaimer
WE DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THE, VIDEOS, MUSICAL MATERIAL OR PICTURES PRESENT THAT WERE NOT CREATED DIRECTLY BY GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY OR ITS AFFILIATES, ALL CREDIT FOR THIS MATERIAL GOES TO THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS, CREATORS AND COMPOSERS.
Fair Use:
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the
Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use"
for purposes such as criticism, comment, news
reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair
use is a use permitted by copyright statute that
might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit,
educational or personal use tips the balance in favor
of fair use."
Every 18.61 years, the swiveling orbit of the moon is tilted at its greatest angle to the earth’s orbit around the sun. When this occurs, the moon will, each month, rise and set as far north and as far south as it is ever seen. This circumstance is known as the major lunar standstill. It is taking place now, and it will continue through most of 2025. It has been argued that features at some ancient and prehistoric sites were deliberately aligned to these greatest monthly excursions of the moon. Chimney Rock National Monument, near Pagosa Springs in southwest Colorado, hosts a striking appearance of the major standstill northern moonrise between two distinctive and monumental rock pillars. This event is only visible from near a thousand-year-old Ancestral Pueblo Great House, and some believe that may explain why that sacred ceremonial building is there. Because the mountaintop can accommodate only a handful of eyewitnesses for the event, the United States Forest Service, Griffith Observatory, and Griffith Observatory Foundation will broadcast selected moonrises to a larger audience at the base of the mountain.
Disclaimer
WE DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO THE, VIDEOS, MUSICAL MATERIAL OR PICTURES PRESENT THAT WERE NOT CREATED DIRECTLY BY GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY OR ITS AFFILIATES, ALL CREDIT FOR THIS MATERIAL GOES TO THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS, CREATORS AND COMPOSERS.
Fair Use:
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the
Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use"
for purposes such as criticism, comment, news
reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair
use is a use permitted by copyright statute that
might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit,
educational or personal use tips the balance in favor
of fair use."
