text: Astronomy Soma was presumed to be a planet in Hindu astronomical texts. It is often discussed in various Sanskrit astronomical texts, such as the 5th century Aryabhatiya by Aryabhatta, the 6th century Romaka by Latadeva and Panca Siddhantika by Varahamihira, the 7th century Khandakhadyaka by Brahmagupta and the 8th century Sisyadhivrddida by Lalla. Other texts such as Surya Siddhanta dated to have been complete sometime between the 5th century and 10th century present their chapters on various planets with deity mythologies. However, they show that the Hindu scholars were aware of elliptical orbits, and the texts include sophisticated formulae to calculate its past and future positions:
  The longitude of Moon =
  – Surya Siddhanta II.39.43
  where m is the Moon's mean longitude, a is the longitude at apogee, P is epicycle of apsis, R=3438'.
  Chandra temples
  Besides worship in Navagraha temples, Chandra is also worshipped in the following temples (please help expand this partial list)
  Parimala Ranganatha Perumal temple: Vishnu temple with shrine for Chandra
  Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur: Navagraha temple associated with Chandra; main deity being Shiva
  Chandramoulisvarar Temple, Arichandrapuram: Shiva temple with shrine for Chandra
  ThiruVaragunamangai Perumal Temple: Nava Tirupathi Vishnu temple associated with Chandra
  In popular culture
  Chandra plays an important role in one of the first novel-length mystery stories in English, The Moonstone (1868).
  The Sanskrit word Chandrayāna (, Moon Vehicle) is used to refer to India's lunar orbiters.