An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A period of 76 years after which the new and full moons would return to the same day of the solar year. This was intended as an improvement of the → Metonic cycle because the 6940 days of the Metonic cycle exceeded 19 years by about a quarter of a day, and exceeded 235 → lunations by a larger amount of time.

See also: Named after Calippus of Cyzicus (about 370-300 BC), a Greek astronomer and mathematician.