TITLE:
Introduction of a New Cycle in Replacement of Metonic: An Ideal Solution towards a Deviation Free Luni-Solar Calendar
AUTHORS:
A. K. M. Amirul Islam
KEYWORDS:
Luni-Solar Calendar, Hebrew Calendar, Molad, Metonic Cycle, Intercalary Month, Synodic Lunar Month, Tropical Solar Year, NASA, LRO
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.11 No.9,
September
29,
2021
ABSTRACT: Molad is simply an interval between two successive new
moon timelines with respect to the line joining the Sun and the
Earth i.e., with respect to the Sun
as seen from the Earth, which in scientific terms is referred as lunation or “synodic lunar month”. Though
synodic lunar month may vary by up to ±0.7 days locally, the length of mean
synodic lunar month is constant over a long period of time and is a crucial
value in determining the luni-solar calendar’s new months similar to Hebrew
calendar’s “Rashei Hodesh”. Based on the Metonic cycle the luni-solar Hebrew
calendar adds 07 intercalary months in 19 solar years. This hypothesis proposes
a new cycle instead of the Metonic cycle towards eliminating the deviation of
the calendar incurred in the long course of time. The research analyzed that
application of the conventional Metonic cycle to luni-solar calendar is
erroneous, which theoretically leads Hebrew calendar to absorb extra 11 days (approx.) by 2053 years after inception. The
study pointed out that through the application of 2116 - 2053 lunar-solar years cycle instead of 235 - 228 lunar-solar months based Metonic cycle, formulation of a far better
high precession luni-solar calendar is possible and also both lunar and solar
sides of the luni-solar calendar became fully balanced and harmonized.