The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-01-04
MOON HAS LITTLE
EFFECT ON EARTH,
SAY THE EXPERTS
Old-Fashioned Opinion Dis
carded by Those Who
Have Investigated.

1t is the firm conviction of many peo-
pie that the moon has a great variety
of influences on the earth. 1t is sup
posed to AFFECT the weather to pro-
found degree. 1t is also supposed to In
fuence directly the growth of crops in
that the probability Of good crop is in
creased greatly II planted at the time of
a certain phase of the moon such as
new full. or quarter. These and many
many.
The proof of pudding is the eating.
Let Us. therefore, see what We find In
regard to one of these beliefs, namely,
the influence on the weather.
Horns Turned Up.
1t is often said that when the horns
Of the crescent moon are turned up the
moon holds water and the weather will
be dry, while. II the horns are turned
down, the weather will be wet. Now
1t happens that when the new moon is
seen in the west the horns Of the cres-
cen; are turned up, while II seen in
the east. only six or eight hours earlier.
these horns are turned down. 1t would
be rather difficult to have wet weather
III tie morning and dry weather IN the
evening continuously from new moon to
first quarter throughout the year. Then,
again. when the moon Is seen as a cres-
SS"t III thV win IkS
turned up these same horns will be
turned down six or eight hours later,
when the moon gets into the western
SKY. We should then Rave to Rave dry
weather In the morning and wet
weather in the afternoon or evening for
nearly a week-tust the reverse of con-
ditions two weeks Previous Now, since
every one knows that SUCH conditions
do not really occur, we must assume
x careful examination n 81 ~ the ' weather
records for a long series of years has
shown that SO far as could be deter
mined the moons influence on the
weather is neeligible. In the same
when a long term of years-say one
hundred or more-was considered, has
failed to establish any connection be-
tween the moon and crops. etc.
Position of the Moon. X
For a time il was supposed that the
position of the moon with respect to
the earth and sun had an influence on
the frequency of earthquakes. But in
this case, as in most others, an in
crease In the time for which reliable
data were available showed that the
supposed connection was wholly acct
dental. IT Is, of course, not safe to
say that there Is absolutely no con-
nection Of this sort with earthquake
do know that no influence of any kind
has as yet been certainly detected.
There are, however, two ways in
which the moon has been found to af-
feet the earth. The first of these is by
means of its attraction. This mani
tests itself in the great tides of our
oceans. the greater part of which are
due to the moon. 1t also affects the
motion of the earth around the sun.
and, owing to the equatorial bulge of
the earth. the earth's equator is caused
TO shift its position with respect to its
orbit about the sun. The second infiu-
ence is a magnetic one. II Is found
that the earths magnetism varies slight
ly with the distance of the moon from
the earth These are the only certain
effects of the moon on our globe. They
may in turn induce others, but no con-
nection has as yet been established
Los Angeles Tribune.