A lunar conjunction is the event when the earth, moon and sun, in that order, are approximately in a straight line. (See conjunction (astronomy) for a precise definition.) It is sometimes referred to as the new moon, though traditionally and Biblically new moon refers to observance by earth bound individuals of the first visible crescent of rebuilding moon light. The period of time between two lunar conjunctions is the synodic month, which is a basic unit in most lunar and lunisolar calendars such as the Islamic calendar and the Hebrew calendar.
The opposite event is called full moon or lunar opposition when sun, earth and moon, in that order, are approximately in a straight line.
Famous quotes containing the words lunar and/or conjunction:
“A bird half wakened in the lunar noon
Sang halfway through its little inborn tune.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“He turned out to belong to the type of publisher who dreams of becoming a male muse to his author, and our brief conjunction ended abruptly upon his suggesting I replace chess by music and make Luzhin a demented violinist.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)