Skywatchers in parts of the Northern Hemisphere will notice that the Moon is reaching an unusually high position in the night sky on Friday, 7 February 2025.
Why is the Moon so high in the sky tonight?
This, according to Space.com, is due to an astronomical event known as a major lunar standstill, which occurs once every 18.6 years.
A lunar standstill happens when the Moon’s declination—the angle it makes with the Earth’s celestial equator—reaches its maximum range.
This causes it to appear much higher in the sky than usual when it is north of the equator and much lower when it is south of the equator.
Tonight, the Moon’s elevated path is the result of the combined effects of Earth’s axial tilt (23.5 degrees) and the Moon’s orbital inclination (5 degrees).
In 2025, these angles align, allowing the Moon’s apparent path to tilt up to 28.5 degrees relative to the equator, resulting in a noticeably high arc across the sky.
Who will see the Moon at its highest tonight?
Observers in the United States, particularly in Florida and Texas, will see the most extreme effects of the lunar standstill.
In cities like Miami and Brownsville, the Moon will pass so high that it will be nearly overhead, with some locations even seeing it shift slightly north of the zenith—the point directly above an observer.
For South African viewers, the phenomenon is not as pronounced. The Moon will still be visible, but its altitude will not appear significantly different from a typical night.
This is because the event primarily impacts regions further from the equator, where the Moon’s variations in height are more noticeable.
Can South Africans observe anything unusual?
While the Moon will not reach an extreme height over South Africa, keen observers may still notice a slightly altered path compared to its usual trajectory.
However, unlike in North America, it will not appear directly overhead or significantly higher than normal.
The next major lunar standstill will not occur until 2043, making this a rare event for skywatchers.