Lunar \Lu"nar\, a. [L. lunaris, fr. luna the moon. See Luna,
and cf. Lunary.]
1. Of or pertaining to the moon; as, lunar observations.
2. Resembling the moon; orbed. --Dryden.
3. Measured by the revolutions of the moon; as, a lunar
month.
4. Influenced by the moon, as in growth, character, or
properties; as, lunar herbs. --Bacon.
Lunar caustic (Med. Chem.), silver nitrate prepared to be
used as a cautery; -- so named because silver was called
luna by the ancient alchemists.
Lunar cycle. Same as Metonic cycle. See under Cycle.
Lunar distance, the angular distance of the moon from the
sun, a star, or a planet, employed for determining
longitude by the lunar method.
Lunar method, the method of finding a ship's longitude by
comparing the local time of taking (by means of a sextant
or circle) a given lunar distance, with the Greenwich time
corresponding to the same distance as ascertained from a
nautical almanac, the difference of these times being the
longitude.
Lunar month. See Month.
Lunar observation, an observation of a lunar distance by
means of a sextant or circle, with the altitudes of the
bodies, and the time, for the purpose of computing the
longitude.
Lunar tables.
(a) (Astron.) Tables of the moon's motions, arranged for
computing the moon's true place at any time past or
future.
(b) (Navigation) Tables for correcting an observed lunar
distance on account of refraction and parallax.
Lunar year, the period of twelve lunar months, or 354 days,
8 hours, 48 minutes, and 34.38 seconds.
