An unusual connection between Stonehenge and the Moon has been discovered

 The ancient monument  Stonehenge hides another fascinating mystery. A team of experts and organizations, including the Royal Astronomical Society, are investigating the possibility that  Stonehenge is linked not only to the positions of the Sun but also the Moon.

Archaeoastronomy researchers, led by English Heritage, will study the link between the ancient monument and the "major lunar fusion" - a rare astronomical phenomenon that occurs every 18.6 years. This means that the moon rises and sets reach their furthest points on the horizon, and another such event will occur this year.

Scientists from the University of Oxford, the University of Leicester and Bournemouth University believe that this once-in-a-generation movement of the moon may have been noticed early in  Stonehenge and therefore may have influenced its later design.

Research on this theory will begin this spring and will last until mid-2025.  Stonehenge's architectural connection to the Sun is well known, but its relationship to the Moon is less understood. The four Station Stones are aligned with the extreme positions of the Moon, and scientists have debated for years whether this was intentional and - if so - how it was done and what the purpose might have been.

To highlight this research, English Heritage will broadcast live the extreme southern lunar rise at Stonehenge. The organization will also host a range of events throughout the stop season, including lectures, a portable planetarium, stargazing and storytelling sessions, as well as a new exhibition in the exhibition space.

The moon has always been an everyday, universally beloved element of the sky that attracts our eyes. The large stop offers even more spectacular views of our celestial neighbor during sunrise and sunset and will be an astronomical event in 2024.

Researchers hope that direct observation of this relationship in 2024-2025 will be crucial to understanding how ancient people experienced these extreme moonrises and sets and how they affected the stone monument.