Light Calendar 2023/24

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The year 2023/24 runs from 04.02.2023 to 03.02.2024 and has the following astro­nomical fixed points: 16th New March (VE), 16th New June (SS), 17th New Septe (AE), 17th New Dece (WS) – explanation below, V1.2.4

< 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 >

New Febru 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
242526272829

New March 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031

New April 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930

New May 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
32

New June 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031

New July 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

New Augus 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031

New Septe 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031

New Octo 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031

New Nove 2023

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728

New Dece 2023/24

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930

New Janu 2024

MoTuWeThFrSaSu
123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930

< 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 >

Explanation:
The Light Calendar divides the year into 4 almost equal quarters, each centered exactly midway between the astronomical fixed points (winter solstice, vernal equinox, summer solstice, autumnal equinox). This creates 4 seasons with distinct character: Early Spring (days rapidly get brighter each day/ΝFeb-ΝApr, warmth arrives delayed), Early Summer (time of long days/ΝMay-ΝJul), Early Autumn (days rapidly get shorter each day/ΝAug-ΝOct), Early Winter (dark season with little daylight change/ΝNov-ΝJan).

Every year begins with 1st New Febr (start of Early Spring). The leap month is New Jan; in leap years it has one extra day (marked ¹). Leap years are shifted ca. two years compared to the Gregorian calendar. For practical reasons the year number still changes on 1st Jan as usual. The lunations of a light year are numbered 1-13 (similar to week numbers). A lunation belongs to a light year if its full moon occurs within that year. The cycle begins with the astronomical new moon: if this occurs before 12:00, the previous day/night counts as the beginning; after 12:00, the same day counts as the beginning.

This PHP version does NOT compute full astronomical precision (unlike the app), but provides a good approximation of all dates, seasons, and moon cycles. All times shown in Central European Time (UTC+1|2).

Lunations of light year 2023/24:
1. Moon – new: Sat, 21.01.23, full: Sun, 05.02.23
2. Moon – new: Sun, 19.02.23, full: Tue, 07.03.23
3. Moon – new: Tue, 21.03.23, full: Wed, 05.04.23
4. Moon – new: Wed, 19.04.23, full: Fri, 05.05.23
5. Moon – new: Fri, 19.05.23, full: Sat, 03.06.23
6. Moon – new: Sat, 17.06.23, full: Sun, 02.07.23
7. Moon – new: Mon, 17.07.23, full: Tue, 01.08.23
8. Moon – new: Tue, 15.08.23, full: Wed, 30.08.23
9. Moon – new: Thu, 14.09.23, full: Thu, 28.09.23
10. Moon – new: Sat, 14.10.23, full: Sat, 28.10.23
11. Moon – new: Sun, 12.11.23, full: Sun, 26.11.23
12. Moon – new: Tue, 12.12.23, full: Tue, 26.12.23
13. Moon – new: Wed, 10.01.24, full: Thu, 25.01.24

The moon display (see above) works as follows: Μx·y(p/z) = x. Moon, y. Day, p=full moon day, z=cycle length.

In the same vein is 'Gordon's Sun Clock', a single-hand clock whose dial changes daily with the seasons. It is available as a free Android app:

Gordon’s Sun Clock >
Info about Light Calendar (Github) >

For more precise calculations, please check the Android app or the web app.