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![]() Title:Numerical Construction and Analysis of the Lunar Analemma Using Astronomical Ephemerides and Computational Methods Conference:CEC 2026 Tags:Astronomical Ephemerides, Computational Astronomy, Fourier Analysis, Lunar Analemma and Orbital Dynamics Abstract: The solar analemma is widely documented and can be described using solar declination and the equation of time. In contrast, the lunar analemma lacks a simple analytical formulation because of the interaction among the synodic, anomalistic, and draconic cycles. This work aims to reconstruct and mathematically characterize the lunar analemma using accessible computational tools and astronomical ephemeris data. Lunar ephemerides for November were collected with Stellarium, and apparent positions of the Moon were digitized using Tracker, considering its approximate daily transit shift of 50 minutes. The coordinates were processed in Python and RStudio through cubic spline interpolation, multiple linear regression, and harmonic fitting with Fourier series. The predictor variables were observation day, right ascension, declination, apparent magnitude, illuminated phase, Earth–Moon distance, and elongation. The regression model explained 98% of the variability in the horizontal coordinate (adjusted R² = 0.98) and 84% in the vertical coordinate (adjusted R² = 0.84); declination and apparent magnitude showed the greatest statistical influence. The Fourier fit reproduced the observed geometry with errors of 21.6 pixels in x and 5.5 pixels in y. Image superposition revealed a lemniscate-shaped trajectory consistent with the numerical simulations and analyzed ephemerides. The results demonstrate that the lunar analemma can be coherently reconstructed without professional instrumentation by using free software and standard numerical methods. This reproducible methodology supports the teaching of Earth–Moon dynamics, data analysis, and computational astronomy, and could be extended to the study of analemmas of other Solar System bodies. Numerical Construction and Analysis of the Lunar Analemma Using Astronomical Ephemerides and Computational Methods ![]() Numerical Construction and Analysis of the Lunar Analemma Using Astronomical Ephemerides and Computational Methods | ||||
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