Octaeteris

In astronomy, an octaeteris (plural: octaeterides) is the period of eight solar years after which the moon phase occurs on the same day of the year plus one or two days.

This period is also in a very good synchronicity with five Venusian visibility cycles (the Venusian synodic period) and thirteen Venusian revolutions around the sun (Venusian sidereal period). This means, that if Venus is visible beside the moon, after eight years the two will be again close together near the same date of the calendar.

Comparison of differing parts of the Octaeteris

Astronomical period	Number in an Octaeteris	Overall duration (Earth days)
Tropical year	8	2921.93754
Synodic lunar month	99	2923.528230
Sidereal lunar month	107	2923.417787
Venusian synodic period	5	2919.6
Venusian sidereal period	13	2921.07595

The Octaeteris, also known as Oktaeteris, was noted by Cleostratus in ancient Greece as a 2923.5 day cycle. The 8 year short lunisolar cycle was probably known to many ancient cultures. The mathematical proportions of the Octaeteris cycles were noted in Classic Vernal rock art in northeastern Utah by J. Q. Jacobs in 1990. The Three Kings panel also contains more accurate ratios, ratios related to other planets, and apparent astronomic symbolism.

See also

• Metonic cycle
• Eclipse cycle

References

• Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, Jean Meeus, Willmann-Bell, Inc., 1997 (Chapter 9, p. 51, Table 9.A Some eclipse Periodicities)

External links

• [1] Acano method for finding 46 lunar eclipses in 270 moons.