Topic “Ancient Moonwatchers” by Dr. Erica Ellingson with the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Abstract While the monthly and yearly cycles of the moon are familiar to most modern skywatchers, the longer and more subtle “lunar standstill” cycles are more difficult to track. Ancient skywatchers from around the world may have noted the shifting positions of the moon, but the evidence is sometimes unclear. In this talk, I’ll model how the precession of the Moon’s orbit causes small changes in the observed positions or moonrise and moonset over its 18.6 year period, and…
Read more: LAS Meeting – Thursday, August 21 at 7 pm
