The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1926-02-05
DOES MOON WRECK
THE RADIO?
Scientific Test Indicates That Ola
Lunar Plays Havoc With AR MUS
ic''-Wide Tests Were Made.

Moonlight, a commodity generally
believed to worry nobody but the
writers of popular songs, today was
revealed in a new role as radlo
wrecker.
Preliminary tests for the national
survey of fading and static to be con-
Quoted by the Stewart-Wagner Speed
ometer Corporation in cooperation
with Northwestern University, Dept
of Physics, on the night of February
9, 10 and IL from to IL, central
standard time, brought unexpected re-
ports on the insidious activities OF the
moon.
Published reports of private in
ouiries into the causes of disturb
ances that prevent good radio recep-
ton so far have dealt with the man
ner in which atmospheric conditions
are changed by sun spots, comets ana
eclipses. Even the aurora boreahs
has been investigated but 1t has never
been suggested that the phases OF
the moon might have anything to do
with the adenoidal performance OF
distant sopranos.
R. C. Therrien, an electrical engl-
neer. of Chicago, today forwarded to
u. X. Smith. director of the national
tests, a report covering period OF
eighteen months. He suggested that
it be Investigated during the February
tests and possibly at other times dur
ing the year.
"Eighteen months ago / discovered
quite accidentally that distance recep-
ticn was almost impossible on a nlght
when the moon was full and high IN
the slxv, said Mr.. TherTien IN his re-
port. 81 thought, Of course, that
this might be merely a coincidence
but I remembered what | had learned
regarding the magnetic effect OF tne
moon on the tide, and 1t occurred Ic
me that such a visible electrical DIS
play ought to have definite influence
on the ionized stratum of atmosphere
or whatever it is that carries on, de
fleets or blocks radio waves. So
watched closely. Each Silent Night
made careful note of reception condl-
tions and lunar phases and gradually
/ I built up the evidence to show that
nv suppositiOn was at least worthy
of further investigation.
81 discovered that during the sum
mer we frequently had nights free
4 from static, despite warm, sultry
weather. Invariably, such nights were
/ those when the moon was In the tlrs'
/ or last quarter. I discovered also
/ that many nights which began witt
/ the atmosphere perfectly dead" Sc
/ far as radio reception was concerned
showed marked improvement later II
! the night when the moon had gone
closer to- the horizon.
"The night of December 28th of las
year was typical one. The air was
crisp, cold and clear and there wa:
mo appreciable moisture-in spite oil
which it was impossible to pick uI
any but the most powerful distant
stations and very few of those. The
moon was Just approaching fullness
For two hours it was impossible t.
hear anything but New Orleans ant
Pittsburgh. After midnight condition!
improved and continued to get better
until Just before daylight when every
thing went dead again. / have noteC
similar conditions virtually ever!
Monday night when the moon wa
full or high.
81 am not attempting to draw de
finite conclusions from my observa
tions, the record of which is enclosed
herewith But I do believe the result
are sufficiently interesting and of suf
ficient Importance to the radio publ
to warrant an investigation of luna
influences on a comprehensive scale
As a result of this letter, Mr.
Smith sent out notices to the 4,00(
i 81, A,l~
tests February 9, 10 and II, asking
them to make notations during thu
period of the survey.