Metonic cycle

Metonic cycle
/mi ton"ik/, Astron.
a cycle of 235 synodic months, very nearly equal to 19 years, after which the new moon occurs on the same day of the year as at the beginning of the cycle with perhaps a shift of one day, depending on the number of leap years in the cycle.
[1880-85; named after Meton, 5th-century B.C. Athenian astronomer; see -IC]

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      in chronology, a period of 19 years in which there are 235 lunations, or synodic months, after which the Moon's phases recur on the same days of the solar year, or year of the seasons. The cycle was discovered by Meton (fl. 432 BC), an Athenian astronomer. Computation from modern data shows that 235 lunations are 6,939 days, 16.5 hours; and 19 solar years, 6,939 days, 14.5 hours. See also golden number.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Metonic cycle — Cycle Cy cle (s? k l), n. [F. ycle, LL. cyclus, fr. Gr. ky klos ring or circle, cycle; akin to Skr. cakra wheel, circle. See {Wheel}.] 1. An imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens; one of the celestial spheres. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. An… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Metonic cycle — Metonic Me*ton ic, a. [Cf. F. m[ e]tonique.] Pertaining to, or discovered by, Meton, the Athenian. [1913 Webster] {Metonic year} or {Metonic cycle}. (Astron.) See under {Cycle}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Metonic cycle — [mə tän′ik] n. [after Meton, Athenian astronomer (5th c. B.C. )] a period of about 19 years (almost 235 lunar revolutions), in which the phases of the moon repeat on the same dates as in the previous period: used for finding the date of Easter …   English World dictionary

  • Metonic cycle — Heliocentric Solar System In astronomy and calendar studies, the Metonic cycle or Enneadecaeteris (from Greek words for nineteen years) is a period of very close to 19 years which is remarkable for being very nearly a common multiple of the solar …   Wikipedia

  • metonic cycle — noun , A particular approximate common multiple of the tropical year and the synodic month; in other words, the 19 year period over which the lunar phases occur on the same dates. According to the Metonic Cycle, a lunar calendar begins on the… …   Wiktionary

  • Metonic cycle — /mətɒnɪk ˈsaɪkəl/ (say muhtonik suykuhl) noun a cycle of nineteen years, after which the new moon recurs on the same day of the year as at the beginning of the cycle. {named after the discoverer, Meton, 5th century BC Athenian astronomer. See ic} …  

  • Metonic cycle —    a unit of time equal to 19 years, used in astronomy in predicting the phases of the Moon. By coincidence, 19 years is equal to 6939.602 days and 235 lunar months is equal to 6939.689 days, just 125 minutes longer. As a result, the phases of… …   Dictionary of units of measurement

  • Metonic cycle — [mɪ tɒnɪk] noun a period of 19 years (235 lunar months), after which the new and full moons return to the same day of the year. Origin named after Metōn, an Athenian astronomer of the 5th cent. BC …   English new terms dictionary

  • metonic cycle — n. a period of 19 years (235 lunar months) covering all the changes of the moon s position relative to the sun and the earth. Etymology: Gk Meton, Athenian astronomer of the 5th c. BC …   Useful english dictionary

  • Cycle — Cy cle (s? k l), n. [F. ycle, LL. cyclus, fr. Gr. ky klos ring or circle, cycle; akin to Skr. cakra wheel, circle. See {Wheel}.] 1. An imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens; one of the celestial spheres. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. An interval… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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