THE EARTH AS A PART OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM 523 



Moon's phases and weather. In the second class of the 

 supposed influences on weather are those based on the 

 phases of the moon. It is said that as the phases of the 

 moon change, the weather changes and that the kind of 

 change depends on the hour of the day or night when these 

 changes of the moon occur. In accordance with one proph- 

 ecy, if the tips of the crescent moon point up, it means a wet 

 season; while in accordance with another prophecy this 

 means a dry season. This is seen to be a very convenient 

 means of prophesying the weather, as one may take his 

 choice as to whether he will have dry or wet weather. 



As a matter of fact there are no abrupt changes of the moon, 

 as the phases are gradually changing all the time. The 

 phases of the moon and the position of the crescent points 

 can be foretold thousands of years ahead, while the weather 

 can be foretold only a few days ahead. 



Careful records have been kept of weather changes and 

 of the changes of the moon, and none of these show any 

 definite fixed relation between the two. The relations that 

 may exist in one part of the country are quite different from 

 those in another part of the country. 



There are three ways in which it might be possible for the 

 moon to affect the earth's atmosphere : first, through its 

 heat; second, through its light; and third, through its 

 attraction. The amount of heat is so small that only the 

 most delicate instruments are able to measure it. Likewise 

 the amount of light received from the moon is very small. 

 The attraction of the moon produces tides on the earth's 

 oceans and possibly it might produce tides in the earth's 

 atmosphere. Careful records have been kept from which 

 it is found that the moon does have a slight effect in this 

 way ; but the changes are so small that they can just barely 

 be measured with the barometer. All these possible in- 

 fluences are so slight that it would not be expected that they 

 could influence the weather. 



