Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1926-01-30
MOONLIGHT in new ROLE
AS RADIO WRECKER
Interesting Account Of Moonlight
Influence-Radio Fans Win Read
This With Interest.

Moonlight, a commodity generally
believed to worry nobody but the
writers of popular songs, today was
revealed in a new role as a radio
wrecker.
Preliminary tests for the national
survey of fading and static to be con-
Quoted by the Stewart-Warner Speed
ometer Corporation in cooperation
with Northwestern University, Dept.
of Physics, on the nights of February
8, 10 and II from 8 to IL, central
standard time, brought unexpected re-
ports on the insidious activities of the
moon.
Published reports of private inquir-
les into the causes of disturbances
that prevent good radio reception so
far have dealt with the manner in
which atmospheric conditions are
changed by sun spots, comets and
eclipses. Even the aurora borealis
has been Investigated, but it has new
er 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 engi-
neer, of Chicago, today forwarded to
J. K. Smith, director of the national
tests, report covering period of Is
months. He suggested that it be in
vestigated during the February tests
and possibly at other times during the
year.
"Eighten months ago I discovered
quite accidently that distance recep-
ton was almost impossible on a
might when the moon was full and
high in the sky, said Mr.. Therrien in
his report" II thought Of course,
that this might be merely a, coinci-
dence, but / remembered what had
learned regarding the magnetic effect
Of the moon on the tides, and it oc-
CURED to me that such a visible cleo
trical display ought to have definite
influence on the ionized stratum of
atmosphere or whatever it is that
carries on, defects or blocks radio
waves. So watched closely. Each
silent night I made careful note Of re-
ception conditions and lunar phases
and gradually I built up the evidence
to show that my supposition was at
least worthy of further investigation.
ct discovered that during the sum-
mer we frequently had nights free
from static, despite warm, sultry
weather. Invariably, such nights
were those when the moon was in the
first or last quarter. I discovered al
SO that many nights which began
with the atmosphere perfectly "dead,"
so far as radio reception was concern
ed, showed marked improvement later
in the night when the moon had gone
closer to the horizon.
"The night of December 18th of
last year was typical one The air
was crisp, cold and clear and there
was no appreciable moisture in spite
Of which it was impossible to pick up
any but the most powerful distant
stations and very few Of those. The
moon was just approaching fullness.
For two hours it was impossible to
hear anything but New Orleans and
Pittsburgh. After midnight condi-
tions improved and continued to get
better until just before daylight when
everything went dead again. I have
noticed similar conditions virtually
every Monday night when the moon
was full or high.
II am not attempting to draw def
mite conclusions from my observa-
items, the record Of which is enclosed
herewith. But do believe the results
are sufficiently interesting and of
sufficient Importance to the radio pub
lie to warrant an investigation of lu-
nar influences on a comprehensive
scale"
AS result of this letter, Mr.. Smith
sent out notices to the 1000 Observers
who will take part in the tests Febru-
Iary 9, 10 and II, asking them to make
notations during the period Of the
survey.
GIVARZ STORE NEWS.