synodic

[ si-nod-ik ]

adjective

1. Astronomy. pertaining to a conjunction, or to two successive conjunctions of the same bodies.
2. of or relating to a synod; synodal.

synodic

/ sɪˈnɒdɪk /

adjective

1. relating to or involving a conjunction or two successive conjunctions of the same star, planet, or satellite

   the synodic month

synodic

/ sĭ-nŏd′ĭk /

1. Relating to the conjunction of celestial bodies, especially to the interval between two successive conjunctions of a planet or the Moon with the Sun as viewed from Earth. For example, the new moon comes at the conjunction of the Moon with the Sun; the interval between successive new moons (the time it takes for the Moon to orbit the Earth and return to conjunction with the Sun) is the Moon's synodic period, also called a lunar month . Synodic time differs from sidereal time , which is measured in relation to the stars and is generally more appropriate to astronomical observation.

Other Words From

• syn·od·i·cal·ly adverb
• non·syn·od·ic adjective
• non·syn·od·i·cal adjective
• non·syn·od·i·cal·ly adverb
• sub·syn·od·ic adjective
• sub·syn·od·i·cal adjective
• sub·syn·od·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of synodic¹

1555–65; < Late Latin synodicus < Greek synodikós. See synod, -ic

Example Sentences

This prograde-to-retrograde cycle is known as a synodic period, and Mercury takes roughly 115 days to complete it.

From Scientific American

Venus takes about 584 days to complete one synodic period, while Mars takes about 780 days.

From Scientific American

These rotations are called the synodic cycles of the planets—their cycles relative to the sun.

From Scientific American

It seems that the makers of the Antikythera device discovered their own improved period relations for two of the planets: 289 synodic cycles in 462 years for Venus and 427 synodic cycles in 442 years for Saturn.

From Scientific American

Our insight was that the inscriptions on the front could refer to index letters on the planetary rings: if the sun pointer is at one of these letters, then the corresponding inscription entry describes the number of days to the next synodic event.

From Scientific American