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Shortest lunar month of 2015 starts on April 18



The shortest lunar month of the year 2015 begins with the new moon of April 18. It ends with the new moon of May 18, 2015. Follow the links below to learn more:


Shortest lunar month of 2015


Longest lunar month of 2015


Lengths of the lunar months in 2015


Why the difference in the lengths of lunar months?


When are the longest and shortest lunar months of 21st century?


EarthSky’s 2015 fund-raising campaign goes until April 16! Donate.


Simulated view of the cycle of the moon's phases from new moon to new moon. This cycle is known as the lunar month. From the years 1760 to 2200, the longest lunar month was 29 days 19 hours and 58 minutes and the shortest 29 days 6 hours and 34 minutes.

Simulated view of the moon’s phases. The period of time from new moon to new moon is known as the lunar month, lunation or synodic month. From the years 1760 to 2200, the longest lunar month spans 29 days 19 hours and 58 minutes (Dec. 9, 1787 to Jan. 8, 1778) while the shortest lasts for 29 days 6 hours and 34 minutes (June 12 to July 12, 1885).



Shortest lunar month of 2015. The shortest lunar month this year happens in between the new moons of April 18 and May 18. This lunar month is only 29 days 9 hours and 16 minutes long, or 3 hours and 28 minutes shorter than the mean lunar month of 29 days 12 hours and 44 minutes.


What is a lunar month? It’s just the duration between successive new moons. It’s also sometimes called a lunation or synodic month. Although the lunar month has a mean period of 29.53059 days (29 days 12 hours and 44 minutes), the actual length varies throughout the year.


One lunar month is the period of time from new moon to new moon. As viewed from the north side of The Earth's and moon's orbital planes, the Earth goes counterclockwise around the sun and the moon goes counterclockwise around Earth. Image credit: Wikipedia

One lunar month is the period of time from new moon to new moon. As viewed from the north side of The Earth’s and moon’s orbital planes, the Earth goes counterclockwise around the sun and the moon goes counterclockwise around Earth. Image via Wikipedia



Longest lunar month of 2015. The longest lunar month of 2015 – October 13 through November 11 – lasts for 29 days 17 hours and 41 minutes.


That’s 4 hours and 57 minutes longer than the mean lunar month of 29 days 12 hours and 44 minutes.


All added up, that means the year’s longest lunar month in 2015 exceeds the year’s shortest by 8 hours and 25 minutes.



Lengths of the lunar months in 2015































































Successive new moonsLength of lunar month
January 20 to February 1829 days 10 hours 34 min
February 18 to March 2029 days 09 hours 49 min
March 20 to April 1829 days 09 hours 21 min
April 18 to May 18 29 days 09 hours 16 minutes
May 18 to June 1629 days 09 hours 52 min
June 16 to July 1629 days 11 hours 19 min
July 16 to August 1429 days 13 hours 29 min
August 14 to September 1329 days 15 hours 48 min
September 13 to October 1329 days 17 hours 24 min
October 13 to November 11 29 days 17 hours 41 minutes
November 11 to December 1129 days 16 hours 42 min


Sources: Astropixels.com and TimeandDate.com


Image credit: NASA. The moon's orbit is closer to being a circle than the diagram suggests. Successive new moons at the vicinity of apogee make for a longer-than-average lunar month. Successive new moons at the vicinity of perigee make for a shorter-than-average lunar month.

Image credit: NASA. The moon’s orbit is closer to being a circle than the diagram suggests. Successive new moons at the vicinity of apogee make for a longer-than-average lunar month. Successive new moons at the vicinity of perigee make for a shorter-than-average lunar month.



Why the difference in the lengths of lunar months? In a nutshell, the longest lunar month of the year occurs when the successive new moons coincide closely with lunar apogee – the moon’s farthest point to Earth in its orbit.


In contrast, the year’s shortest lunar month takes place when the successive new moons fall appreciably close to lunar perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit.


Dates for this year’s 13 apogees and 13 perigees


In 2015, the year’s longest and shortest lunar months do not actually showcase great extremes. In fact, the longest and shortest lunar months in the years ahead will vary more greatly from the mean.


The longest lunar months happen when successive new moons occur near lunar apogee – and in addition, the Earth is near perihelion (Earth’s closest point to the sun in its orbit). Because Earth is always closest to the sun in early January, the very longest lunar months take place in between December and January new moons.


On the other hand, extremely short lunar months happen when successive new moons fall near lunar perigee – and in addition, the Earth is near aphelion (Earth’s farthest point from the sun in its orbit). Because Earth is always at aphelion in early July, the very shortest lunar months take place in between June and July new moons.


When are the longest and shortest lunar months of 21st century? The longest lunar month of the 21st century (2001 to 2100) occurs in between the December 2017 and January 2018 new moons. With a length of 29 days 19 hours and 47 minutes, this particular lunar month exceeds the mean by a whopping 7 hours and 3 minutes.


The century’s shortest lunar month takes place in between the new moons of June and July 2053, a period of 29 days 6 hours and 35 minutes. That’s 6 hours and 9 minutes shorter than the mean.


Incidentally, exceptionally long or short lunar months repeat in cycles of 9 years.


Each year, the shortest and longest lunar months come later in the year. For instance, in 2016, the shortest lunar month happens in between the May 6 and June 5 new moons; and the longest one in between the October 30 and November 29 new moons. Click here for a complete listing for the length of each lunar month in the 21st century.


Bottom line: A lunar month is the duration between successive new moons. It’s also sometimes called a lunation or synodic month. Although the lunar month has a mean period of 29.53059 days (29 days 12 hours and 44 minutes), the actual length varies throughout the year. The shortest lunar month of the year begins with the new moon of April 18, 2015 and ends with the new moon of May 18, 2015.






from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1yr7HUl

The shortest lunar month of the year 2015 begins with the new moon of April 18. It ends with the new moon of May 18, 2015. Follow the links below to learn more:


Shortest lunar month of 2015


Longest lunar month of 2015


Lengths of the lunar months in 2015


Why the difference in the lengths of lunar months?


When are the longest and shortest lunar months of 21st century?


EarthSky’s 2015 fund-raising campaign goes until April 16! Donate.


Simulated view of the cycle of the moon's phases from new moon to new moon. This cycle is known as the lunar month. From the years 1760 to 2200, the longest lunar month was 29 days 19 hours and 58 minutes and the shortest 29 days 6 hours and 34 minutes.

Simulated view of the moon’s phases. The period of time from new moon to new moon is known as the lunar month, lunation or synodic month. From the years 1760 to 2200, the longest lunar month spans 29 days 19 hours and 58 minutes (Dec. 9, 1787 to Jan. 8, 1778) while the shortest lasts for 29 days 6 hours and 34 minutes (June 12 to July 12, 1885).



Shortest lunar month of 2015. The shortest lunar month this year happens in between the new moons of April 18 and May 18. This lunar month is only 29 days 9 hours and 16 minutes long, or 3 hours and 28 minutes shorter than the mean lunar month of 29 days 12 hours and 44 minutes.


What is a lunar month? It’s just the duration between successive new moons. It’s also sometimes called a lunation or synodic month. Although the lunar month has a mean period of 29.53059 days (29 days 12 hours and 44 minutes), the actual length varies throughout the year.


One lunar month is the period of time from new moon to new moon. As viewed from the north side of The Earth's and moon's orbital planes, the Earth goes counterclockwise around the sun and the moon goes counterclockwise around Earth. Image credit: Wikipedia

One lunar month is the period of time from new moon to new moon. As viewed from the north side of The Earth’s and moon’s orbital planes, the Earth goes counterclockwise around the sun and the moon goes counterclockwise around Earth. Image via Wikipedia



Longest lunar month of 2015. The longest lunar month of 2015 – October 13 through November 11 – lasts for 29 days 17 hours and 41 minutes.


That’s 4 hours and 57 minutes longer than the mean lunar month of 29 days 12 hours and 44 minutes.


All added up, that means the year’s longest lunar month in 2015 exceeds the year’s shortest by 8 hours and 25 minutes.



Lengths of the lunar months in 2015































































Successive new moonsLength of lunar month
January 20 to February 1829 days 10 hours 34 min
February 18 to March 2029 days 09 hours 49 min
March 20 to April 1829 days 09 hours 21 min
April 18 to May 18 29 days 09 hours 16 minutes
May 18 to June 1629 days 09 hours 52 min
June 16 to July 1629 days 11 hours 19 min
July 16 to August 1429 days 13 hours 29 min
August 14 to September 1329 days 15 hours 48 min
September 13 to October 1329 days 17 hours 24 min
October 13 to November 11 29 days 17 hours 41 minutes
November 11 to December 1129 days 16 hours 42 min


Sources: Astropixels.com and TimeandDate.com


Image credit: NASA. The moon's orbit is closer to being a circle than the diagram suggests. Successive new moons at the vicinity of apogee make for a longer-than-average lunar month. Successive new moons at the vicinity of perigee make for a shorter-than-average lunar month.

Image credit: NASA. The moon’s orbit is closer to being a circle than the diagram suggests. Successive new moons at the vicinity of apogee make for a longer-than-average lunar month. Successive new moons at the vicinity of perigee make for a shorter-than-average lunar month.



Why the difference in the lengths of lunar months? In a nutshell, the longest lunar month of the year occurs when the successive new moons coincide closely with lunar apogee – the moon’s farthest point to Earth in its orbit.


In contrast, the year’s shortest lunar month takes place when the successive new moons fall appreciably close to lunar perigee – the moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit.


Dates for this year’s 13 apogees and 13 perigees


In 2015, the year’s longest and shortest lunar months do not actually showcase great extremes. In fact, the longest and shortest lunar months in the years ahead will vary more greatly from the mean.


The longest lunar months happen when successive new moons occur near lunar apogee – and in addition, the Earth is near perihelion (Earth’s closest point to the sun in its orbit). Because Earth is always closest to the sun in early January, the very longest lunar months take place in between December and January new moons.


On the other hand, extremely short lunar months happen when successive new moons fall near lunar perigee – and in addition, the Earth is near aphelion (Earth’s farthest point from the sun in its orbit). Because Earth is always at aphelion in early July, the very shortest lunar months take place in between June and July new moons.


When are the longest and shortest lunar months of 21st century? The longest lunar month of the 21st century (2001 to 2100) occurs in between the December 2017 and January 2018 new moons. With a length of 29 days 19 hours and 47 minutes, this particular lunar month exceeds the mean by a whopping 7 hours and 3 minutes.


The century’s shortest lunar month takes place in between the new moons of June and July 2053, a period of 29 days 6 hours and 35 minutes. That’s 6 hours and 9 minutes shorter than the mean.


Incidentally, exceptionally long or short lunar months repeat in cycles of 9 years.


Each year, the shortest and longest lunar months come later in the year. For instance, in 2016, the shortest lunar month happens in between the May 6 and June 5 new moons; and the longest one in between the October 30 and November 29 new moons. Click here for a complete listing for the length of each lunar month in the 21st century.


Bottom line: A lunar month is the duration between successive new moons. It’s also sometimes called a lunation or synodic month. Although the lunar month has a mean period of 29.53059 days (29 days 12 hours and 44 minutes), the actual length varies throughout the year. The shortest lunar month of the year begins with the new moon of April 18, 2015 and ends with the new moon of May 18, 2015.






from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1yr7HUl

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