Ethal's lunar calender for second year running

Thiruvananthapuram: For the second year running, Attingal-based group Ethal has come out with a scientific lunar calendar deliberately avoiding dates of religious festivals and astrology-based information like Rahukalam. The Gregorian calendar is based on the revolution of the earth around the sun. However, the lunar calendar is built on the cycles of lunar phases. Subhash Kavalayoor who heads the organisation in Kavalayoor near Attingal said the calendar had scientifically explained various phenomenon associated with the moon like the lunar eclipse, the blood moon, black moon, white moon and blue moon.

“Concrete attempts have been made to promote scientific temperament by explaining the rationale of each phenomenon. It's named lunar based science observation calendar," he told DC. “It has also marked important dates like the lunar eclipse that took place on January 31 which resulted in the blue moon phenomenon.”

There is another lunar eclipse on July 27 which would witness the super moon phenomenon. It also contains dates associated with space discoveries like the birthday of Galileo and Pluto's invention. “There has been every attempt to keep the calendar as accurate as possible. The attempt was part of its efforts to create scientific temper among students," he said.  “A lunar year consists of 354.367 days. Each month is calculated as the period from one full moon to another."