The chart covers one lunation
Each Lunation Chart presents one lunar cycle as a circle, from one new moon to the next, about 29.5 days. On the chart the period begins at the seam at the bottom, sweeps clockwise, and ends at that same seam.
Lunation Calendar — Lunation Chart Legend
The Lunation Chart reveals a single cycle of the Moon.
This interactive legend identifies each feature of the Lunation Chart. Scroll through its features and the chart will follow along, or select a feature on the chart to jump to its explanation.
Looking for the chart’s broader purpose rather than its individual features?
How the chart works
Features are arranged in bands
The outer part of the chart is organized into concentric bands. Each band carries a different feature, described in the sections that follow.
Some features continue through the seam
Some features repeat at the seam and so continue smoothly from one chart to the next. Features that do not repeat there are rendered with a small gap, indicating that they began on the previous chart and continue on the next.
Feature bands
Moon Faces Band
Shows the Moon’s appearance when it is at its highest point above the horizon. If a lunar or solar eclipse is visible from the chart location, it is depicted here.
Moon and Sun Arcs Band
Traces the arc of the Moon (blue) and Sun (gold) above the horizon. The highest point of each Moon arc is marked with a radial line.
Moon Phases Band
Names the major and minor phases of the Moon. Each major phase is positioned at the time it occurs and marked by a filled diamond. Hollow diamonds mark the quarter points of the lunation, revealing how the phases vary in duration.
Moon Age Band
Marks the Moon’s age — the number of 24-hour periods since the New Moon.
Moon in the Zodiac Band
Traces the Moon moving through the tropical zodiac. Each sign has its own color, shared with the Year Chart. Conjunctions of the Moon with a planet are marked with its symbol. The text appears in lilac, visually grouping the band with the chart’s other astrological features.
Gregorian Date Band
Divides the cycle into Gregorian days and marks each hour with a tick.
Rare Events Band
Pinpoints significant astronomical, astrological, and calendrical events within the lunation. Label colors group related events: lilac for astrological events, gold for solar eclipses, blue for lunar eclipses, and gray for other Rare Events. Shows an event’s duration with a gray strip in the Gregorian Date Band.
Center and reference
Lunation Name
Names the chart for the full moon it is centered on.
Chart Date Range
Identifies the calendar dates spanned by the lunation.
Location
Identifies the location for which the chart is calculated.
Moon’s Orbit around Earth
Depicts the Moon’s tilted orbit (blue) around Earth in relation to the Sun and the ecliptic plane (gold). Marks the lunar nodes, apogee and perigee, and the latitude of the chart location.
Astrological Table
Summarizes the positions and motions of the Sun and planets in the zodiac. For each body, the table shows the starting sign and direction of motion, and lists ingresses and stations that occur during the lunation. A planet already in retrograde motion starts with ℞ after its sign. Changes in direction are indicated with s℞ for station retrograde and sD for station direct. A superscript number relates each change to an event in the Rare Events Band. The Sun’s season is also indicated. The table’s text appears in lilac, visually grouping it with the chart’s other astrological features.
Next chart legend
Year Chart Legend
Zoom out from a single lunation to see how lunar cycles unfold through the year and its seasons.