Since it appears to be a slow news week, I'll take the opportunity to ask for some help on a conceptual problem I've been having.
I know the moon can be used with a sun dial to tell time at night. I now look at the moon with a new appreciation. But I can't get the hang of predicting where the moon will be at a given time, and vice versa. The sun is easy: In winter, its trajectory is off to the South (I'm at 33.642 deg N.) and in summer, it is overhead. But the moon seems to skip all over the sky. Every night, of course, it is at a different longitude at a given time. I think I've seen a scheme to figure out the moon age based on the shape of the illuminated portion. But the latitude changes, too, but in a way I find confusing. I'm becoming a lunatic, trying to get my arms around the problem. Question: is there an easy way to understand AND remember how the moon moves throughout the month? Cheers, Tom Egan 33.642 N, 117.943 W > Actually it is dark, but the lights are on. See the amazing photo at > > http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg > > Daniel Wenger > > >I think it has just been quiet. Perhaps there's no Sun in most of the > >northern hemisphere, and it's just depressing? > > > >Dave > > > >On Fri, 26 Jan 2001, -ce- wrote: > > > >> Help ! > >> > >> Am I casted away ? > >> Has the sundial list a problem ? > >> > >> I didnt received any other messages, only those from Tony Moss (thanks > >> Tony !) > >> since the one named : telling time by rainbows, from Frans W. MAES on > >> 15/01/01 at 14:23. > >> > >> Is the activity on sundialling halted all over the world ? > >> I hope it is not the case ! > >> > >> Even if I'm only a reader of tese very interresting exchanges, it gives > >> me many pleasure and knowledge. > >> > >> Gnomonically yours ! > >> > >> Alain MORY > >> 7E 48N > >> > > Daniel Lee Wenger > Santa Cruz, CA >
