An advanced scattered moonlight model for Cerro Paranal

The largest natural source of light at night is the Moon, and it is the major contributor to the astronomical sky background. Being able to accurately predict the sky background, including scattered moonlight is important for scheduling astronomical observations. We have developed an improved scattered moonlight model, in which the components are computed with a better physical understanding as opposed to the simple empirical fit in the frequently used photometric model of Krisciunas & Schaefer (1991). Our spectroscopic model can better trace the spectral trends of scattered moonlight for any position of the Moon and target observation. This is the first scattered moonlight model that we know of which is this physical and versatile. We have incorporated an observed solar spectrum, accurate lunar albedo fit, and elaborate scattering and absorption calculations that include scattering off of molecules and aerosols. It was designed for Cerro Paranal, but can be modified for any location with known atmospheric properties. Throughout the optical range, the uncertainty is less than 20%. This advanced scattered moonlight model can predict the amount of scattered moonlight for any given geometry of the Moon and target, and lunar phase for the entire optical spectrum.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Full moonlight-induced circadian clock entrainment in Coffea arabica

Background: It is now well documented that moonlight affects the life cycle of invertebrates, birds, reptiles, and mammals. The lunisolar tide is also well-known to alter plant growth and development. However, although plants are known to be very photosensitive, few studies have been undertaken to explore the effect of moonlight on plant physiology. Results: Here for the first time we report a massive transcriptional modification in Coffea arabica genes under full moonlight conditions, particularly at full moon zenith and 3 h later. Among the 3387 deregulated genes found in our study, the main core clock genes were affected. Conclusions: Moonlight also negatively influenced many genes involved in photosynthesis, chlorophyll biosynthesis and chloroplast machinery at the end of the night, suggesting that the full moon has a negative effect on primary photosynthetic machinery at dawn. Moreover, full moonlight promotes the transcription of major rhythmic redox genes and many heat shock proteins, suggesting that moonlight is perceived as stress. We confirmed this huge impact of weak light (less than 6 lx) on the transcription of circadian clock genes in controlled conditions mimicking full moonlight

Meet Me by Moonlight

Meet me by moonlight aloneAnd then I will tell you a taleMust be told by the moonlight alonein the grove at the end of the valeYou must come for I said I would shew the night flowers their QueenNay turn not away thy sweet head\u27This the loveliest ever was seenoh! meet me by the moonlight aloneMeet me by the moonlight alone. [Verse 2]day light may do for the gay,The thoughtless, the heartless, the free,But there\u27s something about the moon\u27s raysThat is sweeter to you and to meOh! remember be sure to be thereFor tho\u27 dearly a moonlight I prize,I care not for all in the airIf I want the sweet light of your eyes,So meet me by moonlight aloneMeet me by moonlight alone

The Moonlight Sonata

Non-fiction by Judy Winslo

Meet Me by Moonlight

Meet my by moonlight alone,And then I will tell you a tale,Must be told by the moonlight alone,In the grove at the end of the vale.You must promise to come, for I said I would show the night flowers their QueenNay, turn not away that sweet head.\u27Tis the loveliest ever was seenO meet me by moonlight alone...meet me by moonlight alone...Yes, I\u27ll meet thee, I\u27ll meet thee by moonlight alone. Daylight may do for the gay,The though[t]less, the heartless, the free,But there\u27s somthing about the moon\u27s ray,That is sweeter to you and to meO remember, be sure to be thereFor though dearly a moonlight I prizeI care not for all in the airIf I want the sweet light of your eyes...So meet me, &c