The National tribune., 1894-07-12
Bv Amos L. Seaman.

By Amos L. Seaman,
The Editors recent chat on Celestial topics
recalled to my memory an article had written
some time ago. which had been laid aside. just
nreyious to the writing OF this article some one
wrote in the C. c. columns:
$40 find the Lunar Cycle or Golden Num-
her, we add one to the year OF which we WISH
TO find il and divide by 10.
The question was asked. Why is each sue
cessive step taken; what is the Golden Num-
Der, and how used
The writer will attempt ar explanation.
The establishment of the Christian era by
Dionysius Exigus marks the origin OF nnmcr-
aling the years rs they are represented at tie
present time.
The vulgar era commenced in the SECOND
year OF the circle of the moon, which consists
of II lunar months and is IL days shorter than
the solar year.
Why do we take each successive step?
The vulgar era having commenced IN the
SECOND year OF the cycle of the moon, we add j
10 any given year to obtain the equIsaient
number of years that have passed in the lunar
cyeie.
We divide by l9, because there are IS lamar
yeas in lunar cycle.
Melton, celebrated astronomer, 430 3. c.,
discovered that ly inserting seven iunations in
10 lunar years, nearly equaliZed them with ~
solar years; lnnsr year of II moons being
about IL days shorter Than the solar year OF 355
days 5 hours 43 minutes aud 81 seconds,
according 10 exact calculation.
This discovery was inscribed by the Greeks
on a pillar of marble in letters OF gold hence,
called the " Golden Number"
The Golden Number is used 10 find the
eparts. the difference in time between the lunar
and solar years. and the moons age.
THE DoMTSIcAL OR SUNDAY LETTER.
More interesting is the Dominica Letter
| than the Golden Number. Its name is self
| explanatory-Sunday Letter-and marks the
| FIRST Sunday of the year, from which any other
/ day of the year can be ascertained in any
| month.
The Dominica Letter indicates the frs;
Sunday of the solar year. 1t is calculated from
the solar cycle. the Golden Number being cal
/ culafed from the lunar cycle.
| If every succeeding year was Of equal dura.
/ tion as the preceding year, and exactly 81
| weeks. then each year would commence upon
| the same day throughout time. Bat since each
| year consists Of 81 weeks aud day. each sue
! ceeding year should begin one day later than
the preceding, and at the end of seven years
| recurrence of this order would follow.
However, this order is interrupted once il
| every four years, by bissextile or leap year
which being two days over even weeks, thu
| year following would commence two days latei
| in the week than the preceding one willis
there being hut day over even weeks il
common years, they commence one day late
than the preceding year.
These interruptions in time according t
calculation, instead of giving US recurrence
OF the same order every seven years, extcn'
the length of time upon which given day
commence the year. in the same order, 10 2
| wears thereafter, when again we have a recur
renee Of the order from which we started
There are, therefore, % years in solar cycle
For example, take the year % years ago
1866. The year began on Monday, as did thi
| year 1884.