Month facts for kids
A month is a way we measure time using calendars. It's about one-twelfth of a year. A month is also closely related to the Moon's journey around the Earth.
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What is a Month?
A month is a period of time that helps us organize our year. It's usually based on how long it takes for the Moon to complete one full cycle of its phases, or how long it takes the Earth to travel a certain distance around the Sun.
Lunar Months
Some calendars, called lunar calendars, are based on the Moon's phases. A lunar month is the time it takes for the Moon to go from one new moon to the next. This period is about 29.5 days. This is called a "synodic month."
Astronomers sometimes use a slightly different measurement called a "sidereal month." This is the time it takes for the Moon to orbit the Earth once, when measured against distant stars. A sidereal month is about 27.3 days long.
Solar Months
Other calendars, known as solar calendars, focus only on the Sun's movement. These calendars do not use the Moon's phases to decide the length of a month.
The Gregorian calendar is a well-known example of a solar calendar. It is used in most parts of the world today. This calendar has 12 months in a year. A Gregorian year has either 365 or 366 days.
| Months of the Year |
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January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
See also
In Spanish: Mes para niños
