"WHEN THE MOON RUNS HIGHEST AND RUNS LOWEST"

Author(s): Rose O'Halloran

Source: Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Vol. 7, No. 44 (October 1,
1895), pp. 265-272
Published by: Astronomical Society of the Pacific
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PUBLICATIONS
OF

THE

Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

Vol. VII. San Francisco, California, October i, 1895. No. 44.

"WHEN THE MOON RUNS HIGHEST AND RUNS

LOWEST."

By Rose O'Halloran,
Member A. S. P.

Though subject to the unbending rule of solar and terrestrial

attraction, the path of the Earth's satellite is no cast-iron groove

on the highway of the heavens. Within the boundaries of a

zone extending nearly six degrees on each side of the ecliptic, or
Sun's path, her sway is complete; and every star in the allotted
realm is, sooner or later, blotted out of view by her intervening
disk. Even the Sun himself occasionally yields to this supremacy, though the glory of his corona at such a time rivals the
impressiveness of the Moon's achievement.
Being but a vassal monarch, her scope has its restrictions, and,
unlike the erratic comet and the lawless meteor, there are tracts
in the firmament where she has never been seen, for no combination of perihelion, perigee, and planetary interference can extend
her variations beyond a certain limit.

Inside her allotted zone, her range, though complete, is

methodical. For instance, near that point of the celestial sphere
called the vernal equinox she may glide by the tail of Cetus, five
degrees south of it, or by the Western Fish, five degrees north
of it; but nine years must elapse between the times that she
skirts these opposite edges of her roadway.
In like manner she may occult the Pleiades (as she has frequently done of late), but, in the meantime, the Hyades will
glimmer in immunity from occultation to the end of the century.

This is owing to the fact that the angle of ve degrees which

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266 Publications of the

the plane of the Moon's orbit makes with the plane of the eclip-

tic reverses its position in about nine years, three and a half
months; for it lacks the greater permanence of direction of the
planetary angles.

In each sidereal revolution, as seen on the heavens, she

passes from a point on the edge of her zone obliquely inward for
about ninety degrees, when she crosses the ecliptic, and continuing obliquely, reaches a point ninety degrees farther, which is on

the opposite side of the celestial sphere, and also on a different

edge of her zone.
Another curve inward of about ninety degrees brings her to
the ecliptic again, which is recrossed nearly opposite to the previous intersection; and, generally, before the revolution is fully
completed, the edge has again been reached, though somewhat
west of the first point.

On account of different positions with regard to Earth and

Sun, and her varying distance from these orbs, these specified
divisions of her orbit are far from being exact quadrants, and are
not apportioned equally to the quarters of her period of twenty-

seven and one-third days, but have a tendency on the whole to

be completed a few hours in advance of an entire circuit in Right
Ascension.

Thus these points on the bounds of the lunar zone, and also
the nodes or intersections with the ecliptic, are not the same in
two consecutive revolutions, but are found in the course of a

year to have moved about nineteen degrees westward, or in a

direction contrary to the order of the signs. This movement,
known as the retrograde motion of the nodes, results in a network of pathways which, for general conception, may be thought
of as one and a half degrees apart, though in reality a wavering,

irregular network, frequently tangled by the varying influence

of gravity.

Two hundred and forty-eight revolutions and a period of six

thousand seven hundred and ninety-three and one-third days are

required to complete the reticulations from border to border

along the zone; and then the complex but systematic wanderings
are retraced with little variation.

This periodic repetition of her routes was more or less

accurately known to the sages of antiquity, who gave the name
of Saros to the eighteen-year cycle which brought a recurrence
of eclipses in nearly the same part of the heavens.

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Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 267

These interesting phenomena, however, are incidents of her
wanderings that lie outside the scope of this paper, which is
designed only to call attention to the most noticeable results of
the varying declinations* attained during a sidereal cycle of
eighteen years and seven months. Those who are familiar with
the imaginary circles of the celestial sphere, and with the relative

positions of the celestial equator, and the ecliptic, or Sun's

apparent path, will readily understand the effect of a change in
direction of the angle of the Moon's orbit.

As the ecliptic crosses the celestial equator at an angle of

twenty-three and a half degrees, about one-half is north of that
circle, the most northerly part of the curve being in Gemini;
and the other half south of it, the most southerly course being
in Sagittarius; while the two intersections occur, respectively, in
Virgo and Pisces.
In the following diagrams, which represent the most striking
differences of position, the lunar path for ninety degrees on each
side of the vernal equinox is supposed to be viewed from the
center of the earth, as from that ideal standpoint of observation
the obstructing horizon can be dispensed with.
The arrows show the direction of the Moon's motion.

For convenience of explanation, the present cycle may be

dated from June, 1885, when the path held the position represented in diagram 1. At that time the north edge touched was
that north of the most southerly curve of the ecliptic, and the
south edge, south of its most northerly curve.
She descended in the vernal equinox where the ecliptic crosses

above the celestial equator, and, at the opposite node, ascended

in Virgo, where the ecliptic passes down. Consequently, her

range was between the two circles, and her declination varied
only from eighteen degrees north to eighteen degrees south,
which points corresponded respectively with her most southerly
and northerly latitudes.

Diagram 2 shows the result of the gradual change during the

succeeding four years and seven to eight months. In February,
1890, the ascending node had then retrograded into Gemini, and

the descending node into Sagittarius; while the extremes of

Declination corresponded with the ecliptic angle, and lunar lati* It may be necessary to remind the reader that the positions given are those the
Moon would have if viewed from the Earth's center, as is customary, to avoid the conflicting effects of parallax.

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268 Publications of the

tude five degress south was in Cetus, south of the vernal equinox,
and five degrees north in Virgo, north of the autumnal equinox.
Diagram 3 represents what may be called the climax of change

when the ascending node is near the vernal equinox where the
ecliptic passes above the celestial equator, and the highest point
is in Auriga, a constellation rarely invaded by the lunar disk.
On September 15th of the present year the Moon, then a few
hours past full, crossed the ecliptic within i 35' of the vernal
equinox, and ranging north and east till September 22d, attained,
as seen from the center of the earth, a declination of 28o 44' 18"
when in 6h im Right Ascension. This was the highest declination
and consequently the highest altitude attained during the present
cycle.

As lunar wanderings are never abrupt, she was nearly as

high in the heavens twenty-seven days previous, or on August
25th, when in North Declination 28o 40' 19", and also during

the subsequent lunation, October 19th, when in Declination

28o 40' 51".
However, a few minutes of an arc are quite a measurable
portion of the heavens and important in lunar distances.
The evening crescent of March 31st, 1876, visible in Europe,
but obscured by sunlight to observers in America until it had
been curving downward for several hours, had the highest declin-

ation of the last cycle; but as this was only 28o 43' 29", and
consequently forty-nine seconds lower than that of September
22d, the waning half moon of that morning was farther north
than our satellite had been in a period of more than thirty-seven
years.

Being near the meridian of observers on the Pacific Coast, its

high altitude was conspicuous and entailed altitudinal difficulties
not often encountered when observing the moon in intermediate
latitudes.

Before sunrise, as the silvery intruder dimmed the lights of

the Charioteer and glanced on the California coast through a less

depth of atmosphere than for many years before, a telescopic

observation of its surface was taken at the choice moment of

highest altitude.

The libration in latitude, then at its maximum, revealed the

rugged southern tracts far beyond Tycho, while the northern
limb was unusually near Plato, and the Alpine peaks projecting
into sunlight. It is to be hoped that the unique outlines and

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P P, Poles. E Q, Equator. E C, Ecliptic.

P P, Poles. E Q, Equator. E C, Ecliptic.

DOTTED LINE, MOON'S PATH, 1885.

DOTTED LINE, MOON'S PATH, 1890.

Diagram i.

Diagram 2.

P P, Poles. E Q, Equator. E C, Ecliptic.

P P, Poles. E Q, Equator. E C, Ecliptic.

DOTTED LINE, MOON'S PATH, 1894.

DOTTED LINE, MOON'S PATH, 1904.

Diagram 3.

Diagram 4.

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Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 269

shadows of that hour have been preserved for future comparison
by means of the camera.

As shown in Diagram 3, when the Moon's most northerlylatitude corresponds with its most northerly declination, the most

southerly latitude will be also attained about the same time as

the most southerly declination.
Accordingly, on October 5th, less than two weeks from the
date of highest altitude, the phase near first quarter when in
R. A. i8h im 54s had a South Declination of 28o 43' 39", a more
southerly range than had been attained since March 17, 1876.
Eight hours later it was on the meridian of Pacific Coast observers, glimmering like a gauntlet on the outstretched arm of the
Archer, instead of forming his shield or helmet, as usual.
As the libration in latitude on this occasion revealed the north

polar regions, such inconspicuous craters as Scoresby, Meton, and

Eudemon were distinctly noticeable within the terminator which
curved by the Sea of Serenity, skirted the complexities of Staffier
to the south, and joined the limb, leaving some well-known south
polar summits on the other side of the moon.

As explained above, a near approach to the extremes of

declination is also made in previous and subsequent lunations.
The waning, gibbous Moon of September 8th and the crescent of
November ist were within nearly one minute of an arc of the
same southerly position.
But the waning half moon of March 17, 1876, was forty-four

seconds farther south, a declination that cannot again be equaled

until the spring of 19 13, and perhaps not even then.
Thus, in the present lunar cycle, the highest North Declination
was attained, while in the last cycle the southward curve exceeded

it by about five seconds of an arc, the difference being due to

slight variations in the angle that the Moon's path makes with
the ecliptic, and to a difference in Right Ascension. In 1899 t^e
most northerly and southerly declination shall again have decreased to that of the ecliptic in Gemini and Sagittarius; but, as
shown in Diagram 4, the ascending and descending nodes shall
have exchanged the positions held in 1890, and the path shall
curve above instead of below the vernal equinox.
In 1904, the intermediate position shown in the first diagram

shall be resumed, and the cycle completed. As the extremes of

declination described above were not coincident with full moon

either in the past or present cycle, it will be of interest to note the

highest and lowest declination of that conspicuous phase.

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270 Publications of the

The lunar tables show that the full moon of December 30,
1876, when in R. A. 6h 43111 had a North Declination of 27o 36' 7".

It shone from the zenith of Egyptian lands, but was probably of

equal radiance a few hours later when at perigee and on the

meridian of the Southern States of North America.

But the full moon of December 22, 1893, R. A. 6h 6m, was

still higher, having a Declination of 28o 17' 25"; and being only
half a degree past perigee, was in a better position for lightgiving on mid- Atlantic north of N. latitude 28o than at any time

within thirty-seven years. This increase of light is not merely

theoretic, as the apparent size of the disk increases as the square
of the apparent diameter; and with a combination of high altitude
and perigee seems one-fourth larger than when near the horizon
and at its greatest distance.
To Pacific Coast observers it had a medium altitude north of

east. When on the meridian a few hours later, and several

seconds lower in declination and a few degrees past perigee, it
was one of the brightest full moons of this cycle. No doubt
many who chanced to look out at midnight wondered at the distinctness of the landscape.
On the seashore, where the atmosphere is apt to frustrate its

illuminating powers, the decrease of distance was otherwise

evinced; for its attractive forces never fail to leave their record
on the surging wave. Before many hours elapsed the waters had
rippled farther in than usual along the Pacific Coast from San
Diego to Alaska, and according to the predictions of the tidetables, the increased range was not fully equaled for more than
a year.

At such times many rush-grown tracts, for years watered

only by rain and fog, are reclaimed by the ocean under the guiding rule of the perigean Moon.

The sound of the waves are thus as truly the music of the
spheres as if waked by a visible touch from ethereal heights.

The voice of an unwonted tide, whether it whispers of the

Moon's approach among the rushes, or roars the tidings on the
high cliffs, is the most impressive of all the voices of inanimate
nature.

The recent shipping disasters were no doubt largely due to the

increase of lunar influence on the atmosphere and waters beyond
semi-tropical regions; for the life experience of a mariner is not

sufficient to familiarize him practically with the possibilities of

the eighteen-year cycle.

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Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 271

During a period of about three years in each cycle, the spring

tides of summer, and more especially those of winter, roll in

beyond their wonted bounds very noticeably, and occasionally
the perigean tide, with conspiring winds and currents, brings ruin
in its path.

Those who understand the causes of the two daily tides and
their variations can readily call to mind the necessary effect of an

increase of declination when the new or full moon is in perigee.

Persons who have had continual opportunity of noticing ships in
port can generally recall at least one period when the hulls were
visible high above the usual level, and in some cases in the plane
of the partly submerged wharf.

In the tide-tables of the year 1876 the predicted range of the

winter perigean tides from higher high to lower low was one foot
and three-tenths less than that of December 23, 1893, at the port
of San Francisco.

Using this port as a gauge, we find from Davidson' s Coast

Pilot that the average difference between higher high and lower
low in consecutive hours is five and two-tenths feet. Con-

sequently, the predicted range on the above date being eight and
one-tenth feet was nearly three feet beyond the average.
A range of two and three-tenths feet beyond the average was

predicted for the twelve hours succeeding the full moon of

December 12, 1894, and a range as great as three and two-tenths
for January 10, 1895. The difference in the three ranges may
be traced to more or less effective combinations of favorable
conditions.

The learned professor, to whose official labors in the interests

of navigation the public are indebted for the valuable book above
named, has courteously furnished to the writer the tidal data and
and further explained that the grade of the ocean-bed, the interference of currents and winds, and the influences of climate are
important factors in tidal effects, and sometimes create a difference between the table of predictions and the observed range.

The full moons that hung low down in the midnight summer
skies were not such effective tide-raisers during either cycle as
the same phases in winter, but their characteristics were equally
distinct.

In northern countries they rose in the southeast late in the

evening, and seemingly of unwonted size, shone for a few hours
in picturesque proximity to the southern landscape, a striking

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27 2 Publications of the
verification of the law that ''in summer, when the Sun runs
highest, the full moon runs lowest."
The beautiful orb of June 17, 1894, was somewhat lower than
the most southerly Moon of 1876.
When the occultation of stars is considered, even a few

seconds of an arc are an important difference. The starry pathway being slightly different in successive revolutions, the various

occultations are a conspicuous and interesting effect of lunar

wanderings.

From time to time each of the major planets is cut off from
view by the roving satellite of the Earth, but Mercury alone is
ever encountered in the extremes of lunar latitude or Declination.

Aldebaran, Regulus, Antares, Spica, the only stars of first magnitude writhin five degrees of the ecliptic, are generally occulted
during each cycle to observers in some part of the Earth, for, on

account of parallax, occultations depend on the latitude and

longitude of observers. When, at long intervals, it is found that

such stars as 49 and 54 Auriga and e and Gamma Sagittarius

have been occulted, perhaps, a few times in succession, it is evidence that the queenly orb has speeded around the most northerly and southerly confines of her sidereal realm.

Like milestones the stellar lights mark her progress along

the winding interlacing journey of years' duration which ends
only to be re-commenced again and again for endless ages.
San Francisco, Cal.

PLANETARY PHENOMENA FOR NOVEMBER AND

DECEMBER, 1895.
By Professor Malcolm McNeill.

November.

Occultations. The Moon passes over the Pleiades twice,

on November 3d in the early evening, and again on the night of
November 30th, or rather, early in the morning on December ist.

On November 3d the Moon is just past full and the immersions

will be at the bright limb and the emersions at the dark limb.
The occultations at the end of the month occur just before the
Moon is full, and the immersions will be at the dark limb. The

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