Dictionary Definition
lunation n : the period between successive new
moons (29.531 days) [syn: lunar month,
moon, synodic
month]
User Contributed Dictionary
Pronunciation
-
- Rhymes: -eɪʃǝn
Noun
- a month of approximately 29.53 days, measured from a lunar phase until the return of that same phase. On average, the number of days between Full Moons is about 29.5306 days. The actual number of days may differ from the average number by more than a half day. From one Full Moon to the next, the number of days in one lunation can vary between 29.272 and 29.833 days.
- The name or term given the irregular period from one new moon until the next.
Synonyms
Extensive Definition
Lunation is the mean time for one lunar phase
cycle (i.e., the synodic
period of the Moon). It is
on average 29.530589 days, or 29 d 12 h 44 min 3 s. The
length of this cycle is linked to many phenomena in nature.
In a lunar
calendar each month
corresponds to a lunation.
Individual lunations vary in length by several
hours, because of the eccentricity
of the orbits of the moon
and Earth.
However, the lunation is never more than 15 hours behind or ahead
of a mean lunation.
See also
lunation in Danish: Lunation
lunation in German: Lunation