lunar cycles
Monthly celestial waxing
The lunar cycle is the roughly 29.5-day period during which the moon passes through its phases—new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, full moon, and back again.
The cycle governs tides, influences some religious calendars, and has long been linked to fertility, planting, and human behavior, though scientific support for the last is thin: She tracks her period by the lunar cycle.
Unlit lunar phase
- waxing crescentMoon phase showing enlarging arc
- first quarterMoon half-visible, growing
- waxing gibbousMoon over half-lit, enlarging
- full moonCompletely lit satellite phase
waning gibbous · last quarter · waning crescent · moonrise · moonset · supermoon · blue moon · harvest moon
Muslim lunar year system
- Hebrew calendarLunisolar system tracking Jewish observances
- Chinese calendarLunisolar dating system from Asia
- Hindu calendarTraditional Indian timekeeping system
- lunisolarInvolving both celestial cycles
Moon obscuring the sun
- umbraComplete shadow region
- penumbraRegion of partial illumination
- totalityComplete aggregate amount
- partial eclipseHeavenly body partly obscured
annular eclipse · blood moon · path of totality · corona · diamond ring · occultation · earthshine
Greek personification of nighttime orb
- ArtemisGreek hunting goddess
- HecateGreek goddess of sorcery
- ThothEgyptian god of wisdom
- moon goddessDeity of lunar realm
Extreme tidal fluctuation
- neap tideLowest tidal range
- high tideMaximum sea level
- low tideSea at minimum level
- ebbGradual retreat seaward
flood tide · tidal range · gravitational pull · tidal bore · king tide · coastal flooding · intertidal · tidal flow
Egg discharge from ovary
- conceptionFormation of an idea
- fertility trackingObserving reproductive indicators systematically
- spawningReleasing eggs to reproduce
- menstruationMonthly uterine bleeding
new moon
Unlit lunar phase
- waxing crescentMoon phase showing enlarging arc
- first quarterMoon half-visible, growing
- waxing gibbousMoon over half-lit, enlarging
full moon · waning gibbous · last quarter · waning crescent · moonrise · moonset · supermoon · blue moon · harvest moon · hunter's moon
Islamic calendar
Muslim lunar year system
- Hebrew calendarLunisolar system tracking Jewish observances
- Chinese calendarLunisolar dating system from Asia
- Hindu calendarTraditional Indian timekeeping system
lunisolar · almanac · Ramadan · intercalation
solar eclipse
Moon obscuring the sun
partial eclipse · annular eclipse · blood moon · path of totality · corona · diamond ring · occultation · earthshine
Selene
Greek personification of nighttime orb
spring tide
Extreme tidal fluctuation
ebb · flood tide · tidal range · gravitational pull · tidal bore · king tide · coastal flooding · intertidal · tidal flow · ocean tides
ovulation
Egg discharge from ovary
- conceptionFormation of an idea
- fertility trackingObserving reproductive indicators systematically
- spawningReleasing eggs to reproduce
- celestial themescelestial navigation, sun worship, night sky, heavens, firmament
- moonfull moon, crescent moon, new moon, half moon, moonlight
- cultural rhythmsfestivals, holidays, seasons, harvest cycles, prayer times
- cyclescircle of life, cycles, period, rhythms, oscillations
- natural cyclescircadian rhythm, seasons, tides, moon phases, circadian rhythms
- Moon Loremoon goddess, moon symbol, moon spirit, crescent moon, full moon
lunar cyclessolar year
One complete Earth orbit
solar calendar · circadian rhythms · seasonal cycles · geological ages · millennia
cycle, lunar, luna, lunate, lunation, semilunar, lunar cycle, lunar month