-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 0
Astronomical Foundations
The Light Calendar is defined exclusively by observable solar and lunar phenomena. Its structure is not derived from historical convention, numerical symmetry, or administrative convenience, but from the actual motion of the Earth–Sun–Moon system.
The calendar year is anchored to the four primary solar events: the winter solstice, the March equinox, the summer solstice, and the September equinox. These events are defined astronomically and can be determined with high precision for any epoch.
No additional correction points or artificial anchors are introduced.
The Light Year begins at the midpoint between the winter solstice and the March equinox, rounded down to midnight UTC. This point marks the transition from decreasing to increasing daylight and represents a natural inflection in the annual light curve.
By defining the year in this way, the interval between successive solar events is divided into four equal-length light quarters. These quarters form the structural basis of the calendar’s seasonal system.
Seasonal structure in the Light Calendar is derived from the rate of change of daylight over time rather than from temperature or cultural tradition.
Periods of rapidly increasing daylight correspond to Waxing Light. Periods in which daylight remains near its annual maximum form Light Time. Rapid decrease defines Waning Light, while the extended minimum around the winter solstice constitutes Dark Time.
This classification follows directly from the shape of the annual daylight curve and does not require arbitrary boundaries.
Lunar cycles are determined using astronomical new moon and full moon events derived from precise ephemerides. Lunar months are neither fixed nor approximated but follow the actual synodic cycle as observed.
Each lunar cycle is assigned according to the occurrence of its full moon, ensuring continuity and consistency across year boundaries.
The Light Calendar is intended as a mathematically consistent calendar system grounded in real celestial mechanics. It deliberately avoids cultural overlays, symbolic reinterpretations, or secondary optimisation goals. Its structure is a direct expression of the geometry and dynamics of the Earth–Sun–Moon system.