The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-15
THE MOONS wANpERlnca.



ssms Astronomicai Infornstion for tia
Uninitiated.
To explain the remarkable variations
| In the place of the moon during differ.
ent months we must consider the eff.
| feet of the inclination of the ecliptic to
the earth's equator. The ecliptic is the
path in which the sun appears to circle
the heavens once every year.
The ecliptic crosses the plane OF tbs
equator at two opposite points, called
the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.
The sun arrives at the vernsl equinox
about the 21st of March, and at
the autumnal equinox about the
21st of September. During the
interval the sun is north of the
equator, and consequently its path
lies high in the heavens as seen from
our hemisphere. But during the other
half of the year, while it is passing from
the autumnal to the vernal equinox, the
sun is south of the equator, and its
path consequently runs low in our heav-
ems.
Now the moon travels around the
earth in plane not very much inclined
(only five degrees and eight minutes) to
the path of the sun. But the sun takes
12 months to circle the heavens while
the moon takes less than one month.
Accordingly at one time we find the
moon near the sun, and about two
weeks later just opposite the sun.
1t is clear that when the moon is near
the sun, as at new moon, it will be north
OF the equator il the sun is north, and
south if the sun is south. But when
the moon is opposite the sun, as at full
moon, it will be north of the equator if
the sun Is south, and south If the sun il
north.
We have just seen that from autumn
until spring the sun is south of the
equator. 1t follows that in winter the
full moon will be north of the equator,
and will run high in the sky. On the
other hand, during the summer, when
the sun is north Of the equator, the
full moon will be south OF it and will
run low in the sky. Some variation il
produced by the inclination OF the
ecliptic, but this inclination, being
small, may be neglected In general
explanation.
In consequence Of its eastwardiy mo-
ton around the earth the moon rises.
on the average, about Al minutes later
every day. This interval is called the
daily retardation. It L. shortened or
heightened according to what part OF
the ecliptic the moon is near. In the
latitude of New York tho interval may
vary in length between twenty-three
minutes and one hour and seventeen
minutes.
The retardation is greatest when the
moons path is steepest to the horizon,
and least when tho path has the SMALL
est inclination.
The latter condition occurs, with re-
spect to the full moon, about the time
of the autumnal equinox. At that sea-
son the full moon travels in a path very
little inclined to the horizon, and so,
for several evenings in succession, will
rise at nearly the hour Of sunset. This
is called the harvest moon. The next
following full moon in October also has
its path but little inclined and it's re-
tardation shortened, and is called the
hunters moon.
Some persons suppose that the cres- |
cent Of the new moon promises wet or
dry weather according as its horns are
so inclined that the hollow between
them looks as though it could or could
not hold water. OF course there is no |
relation between the weather and the |
position Of the new moons horns. The |
inclination of the new moon can readily |
be accounted for, at any time, when we
bear in mind the fact that line drawn
rom tip to tip of the horns must always
,e at right anglesto tho direction of tho
Compauion.