[Physics Class Notes] on Solar Calendar Pdf for Exam

A solar calendar can be best understood by visiting Jantar Mantar (Delhi, Jaipur). 

There was a time when the inclination of sun rays helped people determine the time. Moreover, it also helped people determine the occurrence of an eclipse or any other happenings.  

Usually, a solar calendar helps determine the occurrence on the basis of the time the earth takes to revolve around the sun.

In short, we can say that the solar calendar is a method of measuring and recording the time periods on the basis of the time earth takes to revolve around the star (Sun).

On this page, you will understand solar month, lunar calendar, and solar calendar.

What is a Solar Calendar?

A solar calendar is a calendar, the dates of which point to the season. They are almost equal to the apparent position of the Sun relative to the stars. 

• The Gregorian calendar is widely accepted as a standard calendar in the world.

• The Gregorian calendar is a well-known example of a solar calendar. 

• Another important type of calendar is the lunar calendar.

• In a lunar calendar, months correspond to cycles of Moon phases. 

• However, the months of the Gregorian calendar never correspond to cycles of the Moon phase.

There are various types of calendars that help determine the solar month; these are as follows:

Examples of Solar Calendars

1. Tropical Solar Calendars

If the position of the world in its orbit around the Sun is estimated with reference to the Equinox, the purpose at which the orbit crosses the equinoctial circle, then it’s dates accurately indicate the seasons. 

It means they’re synchronized with the declination of the Sun. Such a calendar is named a tropical solar calendar.

2. Sidereal Solar Calendars

When the position of the Earth is estimated with respect to the fixed stars, the dates indicate the zodiacal constellation near which the Sun can be found. 

This type of calendar is the sidereal solar calendar.

3. Lunisolar Calendar

Lunisolar calendars are lunar calendars. As a rule, lunisolar calendars are the additional intercalation that keeps a rough synchronization with the solar year; also, with the seasons. 

Ordinarily, a lunisolar calendar has a whole number of lunar months. However, it can’t indicate the position of Earth on its revolution around the Sun. The same is with a solar calendar.

Lunar to Gregorian Calendar

Firstly, Egyptians developed the solar calendar to use the annual appearance of the Dog Star – Sirius.

• Sirius coincided with the yearly flooding of the Nile River, as a focal point. 

• However, the Egyptians didn’t consider the extra part of a day in their 365-day calendar. 

• Later, Julius Caesar in favor of the Julian Calendar replaced the Roman republic calendar, based on the Lunar Calendar of the ancient Greeks.

• Further, the Julian Calendar allowed for February as leap year; also, made the solar year too long by adding a quarter of a day annually. 

• By then, in the 16th Century, the additional time accumulated to form an error of around 10 days which was improvised in the form of the current Gregorian Calendar.

Solar Years Month

With the help of the solar calendar, we can predict the time period in which the sun sets and rises throughout the day. Besides this, throughout the year, we can also determine the occurrences of the lunar and solar eclipse.

Though the measuring of time started in India; so how the time determination occurred, let’s understand it:

Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur established five Jantar Mantar in the early 18th century, the cities are:

• New Delhi

• Jaipur

• Ujjain

• Mathura

• Varanasi;

These five were completed between 1724 and 1735.

The Jantar Mantar monuments have Samrat Yantra, Jai Prakash, Ram Yantra, and Niyati Chakra. Each of these is employed for various astronomical calculations. 

The fundamental objective of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables. Also, to predict the days and movements of the sun, moon, and planets.

The List of Instruments Involved are:

• Samrat Yantra

• Jai Prakash Yantra

• Disha Yantra

• Rama Yantra

• Chakra Yantra

• Rashi Valaya Yantra

• Dingash Yantra

• Utaansh Yantra

Solar Years Month

Earth’s revolution around the Sun defines the year in the Western World .Therefore, the earth’s revolution is referred to as a ´Solar Year´. However, several varieties of Solar years exist:

1. Tropical Year

A Tropical Year is derived from the Greek word ‘tropia’, meaning the turning points.’ This year lasts 365.242199 days UT. 

The name topical years refer to the changes of seasons that remain fixed in this kind of year.

2. Sidereal Year

A Sidereal Year lasts 365.256366 days UT. This year is the interval between two successive passages of the Mean Sun at the same star.

Lunar Calendar and Solar Calendar

A solar-lunar calendar carries a difference. Additionally, there is a feature that a lunar calendar upholds. 

So, let’s get started with the difference between the lunar calendar and solar calendar:

Talking about a lunar calendar, we usually have 354 days; however, in a leap year, a lunar calendar has 384 days. 

A solar calendar has 365 days. In addition to it, there are 365 days, i.e.,  an additional day during a leap year.

                 

Additionally, a lunar calendar shifts quickly in contrast to a lunar calendar.

Give a List of Solar Calendars that are Used Currently or were Used in the Past

There are a number of examples of solar calendars available across the world. Some of these
examples are the Assamese calendar, Astronomical year numbering, Assyrian calendar, Badi’ calendar, Bengali calendar, Basotho calendar, Berber calendar, Byzantine calendar, Bulgar calendar, Coptic calendar, Era Fascista, Discordian calendar, Ethiopian calendar, French Republic calendar, Florentine calendar, Gregorian calendar, Hanke-Henry Permanent Calendar, Holocene calendar, Indian national calendar, International Fixed Calendar, Invariable Calendar, Jalali calendar, Javanese calendar, Juche era calendar, Julian calendar, Malayalam calendar, Minguo calendar, Nanakshahi calendar, Odia calendar, Old Icelandic calendar, Pan Chronometer, Pataphysical calendar, Pax Calendar, Pentecontad calendar, Pisan calendar, Positivist calendar, Revised Julian calendar, Roman calendar, Runic calendar, Solar Hijri calendar, Soviet calendar, Swedish calendar, Symmetry454, Tamil calendar, Thai solar calendar, Tulu calendar, World Calendar, and World Season Calendar.

Do You Know?

An Islamic Calendar relies on the Lunar Calendar for ascertaining the dates of their festivals such as Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca. 

Therefore, the lunar to Gregorian calendar advances through our Gregorian solar calendar by 11 days every year.