Lunar Age Calculator

What is Lunar Age?

Lunar age is calculated based on the lunar calendar, which follows the phases of the Moon. Unlike the solar (Gregorian) calendar with 365 days, a lunar year consists of approximately 354 days (12 lunar months). This means you age faster in lunar years than in solar years.

Lunar Calendar Basics

• Lunar Month (Synodic Month): 29.53059 days - time between consecutive new moons
• Lunar Year: 354.36 days (12 lunar months)
• Solar Year: 365.25 days (Gregorian calendar)
• Difference: A lunar year is about 11 days shorter than a solar year

Cultural Significance

Many cultures use lunar calendars for religious and cultural purposes. The Islamic calendar is purely lunar, while the Chinese, Hebrew, and Hindu calendars are lunisolar (combining lunar months with solar years through intercalation). Lunar calendars are used to determine dates for festivals like Ramadan, Chinese New Year, Passover, and Diwali.

Lunar vs Solar Age

Because a lunar year is shorter than a solar year, your lunar age will be slightly higher than your solar age. For every 33 solar years, you gain approximately 1 extra lunar year. This calculator shows the difference between your lunar and solar ages.

The Metonic Cycle

The Metonic cycle is a period of 19 years, after which the phases of the Moon recur on the same days of the solar year. This cycle contains 235 lunar months (19 × 12 + 7 intercalary months) and is used in many lunisolar calendars to keep lunar months aligned with solar seasons.

Lunar Calendars Around the World

• Islamic Calendar: Pure lunar calendar (354-355 days/year)
• Chinese Calendar: Lunisolar with leap months
• Hebrew Calendar: Lunisolar with 7 leap months in 19 years
• Hindu Calendar: Lunisolar with regional variations
• Buddhist Calendar: Lunisolar in most traditions

Interesting Facts

• The word "month" comes from "Moon"
• A blue moon is the second full moon in a calendar month
• The Moon's orbit around Earth takes 27.3 days (sidereal month)
• The synodic month (29.5 days) is longer due to Earth's orbit around the Sun
• Islamic months begin when the new crescent moon is first visible
• The Chinese New Year falls between January 21 and February 20