Lunar month circular, the speed of Earth's progression around the Sun varies during the year. Thus, the angular rate is faster nearer periapsis and slower near apoapsis. The same is so for the Moon's orbit around the Earth. Because of these variations in angular rate, the actual time between lunations may vary from about 29.18 to about 29.93 days. The long-term average duration is days (29 d 12 h 44 min 2.8016 s). The synodic month is used to calculate eclipse cycles. It is customary to specify positions of celestial bodies with respect to the vernal equinox. Because of Earth's precession of
Military designation of days and hours is 7 days after C-day, "H−2" is 2 hours before H-hour, and so forth. In less formal contexts, the time is usually spelled out, so that "D−3" becomes "D minus three" or "D minus 3". Military designation of days and hours The military designation of days and hours within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), is specified in AAP-6 (STANAG 3680), "NATO Glossary of Terms and Definitions", and marked "(NATO)" in what follows. Those entries marked "(US)" are specific to the U.S., and defined only in Joint Publication JP 1-02, "Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms". References