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Long ago people noticed about 12 Moon cycles fit into one cycle of seasons. So they built calendars on the Moon. Simple and reliable — but with one catch. Let's explore the lunar calendar.
What is a lunar calendar and what is its drawback?
- About 12 Moon phase cycles fit into one cycle of seasons.
- A lunar calendar has a day, a month of about 29.5 days, and 12 lunar months.
- But a lunar year is only 354 days, while seasons repeat in about 365 days.
- So the seasons slowly drift out of step with the lunar months.
Example:
In a lunar calendar, a month tied to harvest slowly slips into a different season over years.
Important Points
- A lunar calendar is based on the Moon's phase cycle.
- It has 12 lunar months of about 29.5 days each.
- Its 354-day year drifts out of step with the seasons.
Important Definitions
- Lunar calendar — a calendar based on the Moon's phases, with a year of 12 lunar months (about 354 days).
