Calendars and time
Golden Number
Direct answer
Golden Number: The Golden Number marks a year position from 1 to 19 within the Metonic lunar cycle used in traditional calendar computation.
The Golden Number identifies a year place in a nineteen-year lunar cycle.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Calendars & Timekeeping
- Related
- Epact, Metonic Cycle, Calendar, Julian Date
The Golden Number identifies a year place in a nineteen-year lunar cycle.
A cycle or timeline schematic for comparing the named timekeeping concept.
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The story behind Golden Number
The number was prominently displayed in medieval calendars because the nineteen-year cycle was valuable for locating lunar dates.
Why Golden Number matters
Golden Number allowed calendar makers to organize recurring ecclesiastical Moon dates before modern ephemerides.
Golden Number in practice: an example
Years separated by nineteen positions receive the same Golden Number even though small lunar-cycle errors accumulate.
Where readings of Golden Number go wrong
It is a mistake to interpret the Golden Number as numerology or a guarantee of identical observed Moon phases.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Introduction to Calendars - Official overview of calendar systems, leap rules, eras, and historical calendar reform.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Astronomical Almanac Glossary - Reference definitions for astronomical periods, coordinates, dates, and time scales.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Calendars & Timekeeping
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Find the Metonic year position
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More in Calendars & Timekeeping
- International Atomic Time
- Local Mean Solar Time
- Ordinal Date
- Sidereal Year
- UT1
- Astronomical Year Numbering
- Civil Calendar
- Draconic Year
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Common questions
What is the Golden Number?
The Golden Number marks a year position from 1 to 19 within the Metonic lunar cycle used in traditional calendar computation.
What do people get wrong about the Golden Number?
It is a mistake to interpret the Golden Number as numerology or a guarantee of identical observed Moon phases.
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