month
A period of time connected with the motion of the Moon around Earth. The familiar calendar (or civil) month is an artificial unit consisting of a whole number of days. For astronomical purposes there are several other types of month.
- Synodic month or lunar month
The average interval from one new Moon to the next – 29.53059 days
- Anomalistic month
The interval in which the Moon passes from perigee to perigee – 27.55464 days
- Sidereal month
The interval in which the Moon passes from a fixed position with respect to the stars back to the
same position – 27.32166 days
- Draconic month or nodal month
The interval between successive passages of the Moon through its ascending node
- Tropical month
The interval between successive passages of the Moon through the vernal equinox – a mean
of 27.21222 days
Related categories
CELESTIAL MECHANICS
UNITS
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History
Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site)
BACK TO TOP
|