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
Apollo 15 operations on the Lunar surface triangles are panorama stations. Apollo 15 operations on the Lunar surface Apollo 15 lunar surface operations were conducted from July 30 to August 2, 1971, by Apollo 15 Commander David Scott and lunar module Pilot James Irwin, who used the first lunar rover to make three exploratory trips away from their landing site at the base of the Apennine Mountains, near Hadley Rille. They collected a total of of lunar surface material during 18½ hours outside their lunar module, "Falcon". At 104 hours, 30 minutes and 12 seconds GET the descent engine of "Falcon" ignited. Burning at about 10% for