Technical name for 'day' on other planets

  • Thread starter Thread starter enigma
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Planets
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on finding a concise technical term for the lunar day-night cycle, which lasts 28 Earth days. Participants express concern that "Lunar Day" may be misleading, and alternatives like "sol" and "molad" are debated. "Molad," a term from Hebrew referring to lunar conjunctions, is favored for its appeal and clarity. Other suggestions include "synod" as a shorthand for "synodical month," while some participants humorously propose terms like "moonth" and "lune." Ultimately, "molad" emerges as the preferred term for its uniqueness and cultural resonance.
enigma
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
Messages
1,738
Reaction score
20
Does anyone know if there is a (short) technical name for a "Lunar day-night cycle" (28 Earth days)?

We're afraid that simply saying "Lunar Day" might be misconstrued as the 14 day period which a site would be in the sun, and typing "Lunar day-night cycle" is becoming rediculous when it needs to be referenced several times in one paragraph.

We've been calling it a "sol", but I don't think that's a typical term.
 
Last edited:
Astronomy news on Phys.org
I looked around a bit and saw other people struggling with the same problem. I saw either day/night cycle, lunar day, or if you plan to publish in Hebrew, a molad.

The calendar is based on virtual lunar conjunctions called "molads" spaced precisely 29 days, 12 hours, and 793 parts apart

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar
 
Ivan Seeking said:
I looked around a bit and saw other people struggling with the same problem. I saw either day/night cycle, lunar day, or if you plan to publish in Hebrew, a molad.

The calendar is based on virtual lunar conjunctions called "molads" spaced precisely 29 days, 12 hours, and 793 parts apart

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar

molad has a really nice sound
this last post shows editorial flair. the kerry quote is well chosen from among many possible things that could have had similar impact
the finding of "molad" is like a small prize for Ivan having done the "seeking"
research----editors of magazines do a lot of fact-checking in obscure references, if they are good. it has this flavor. You could edit a small science-related magazine that would be interesting or attract a following, or a blog.

to toss in some more arcana, my astrophysics handbook lists several months

siderial period----around 27.3
synodical month-----what you call molad, new moon to new moon
tropical month-----around 29.3
anomalistic month----perigee to perigee
nodical month------node to node


This suggests to me that one alternative to saying "molad" would be
to say "synod"
as a shortening of "synodical month"

but what would really be wrong with simply saying "month"
it must come from moon because it sounds like "moonth"
probably there are some people who say "lune" for the 29.5 earthday period
regards to Tsu
 
People call the Martian day a "sol." I think the world "sol" could apply equally well to any planet.

- Warren
 
marcus said:
molad has a really nice sound
this last post shows editorial flair. the kerry quote is well chosen from among many possible things that could have had similar impact
the finding of "molad" is like a small prize for Ivan having done the "seeking"
research----editors of magazines do a lot of fact-checking in obscure references, if they are good. it has this flavor. You could edit a small science-related magazine that would be interesting or attract a following, or a blog.

to toss in some more arcana, my astrophysics handbook lists several months

siderial period----around 27.3
synodical month-----what you call molad, new moon to new moon
tropical month-----around 29.3
anomalistic month----perigee to perigee
nodical month------node to node


This suggests to me that one alternative to saying "molad" would be
to say "synod"
as a shortening of "synodical month"

but what would really be wrong with simply saying "month"
it must come from moon because it sounds like "moonth"
probably there are some people who say "lune" for the 29.5 earthday period
regards to Tsu
Thanks, Marcus! Back at ya! (sure wish I had spent less time on my professional CE and more on LQG now that Rovelli and Baez have visited! :wink: Dang! Don't let them get away! :biggrin: )

I thing molad has a very nice ring to it. (could be a function of my Jewish ancestry :wink: )

Synod - sounds like a religious ecclesiastical council... :eek:

Lune? - hey! you talkin' 'bout me again?

Moonth - hmmmm... it has certain possibilities...

If this is a democratic thread, I vote for molad. :biggrin:
 
Tsunami said:
If this is a democratic thread, I vote for molad. :biggrin:

Well, there will be some NASA bigwigs at the comprehensive design review for my senior design class. Don't want to sound like an idiot at that presentation or in the project writeup. :cool:
 
enigma said:
Well, there will be some NASA bigwigs at the comprehensive design review for my senior design class. Don't want to sound like an idiot at that presentation or in the project writeup. :cool:
Hey! Whose ancestral language are you calling idiotic! :-p
Fine. BE picky, then. :-p :biggrin:
If you don't like Hebrew, would Hindu be more acceptable?

http://www.encyclopedia4u.com/t/tithi.html

This assumes, of course, that the NASA bigwigs are into vedic timekeeping... :wink:
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

Back
Top