Crime by the Moon Introduction

The impact of the Sun and Moon and

the times in which they influence the
amount of natural light, can have a
significant impact on rural crimes.
Various groups of criminals have vastly
different Modus Operandi in executing
their criminal plans.

By comparing recorded incidents with

the historic data pertaining to the
natural light conditions of the day, a
possible link can be established and
trends may emerge. These tendencies
can then be scrutinized to predict the
re-occurrence of such an event.

The limitations of such an analysis are

that the weather conditions, which may
have affected the conditions during a
criminal event, could have played a role
in the planning of such. As an example,
a cloudy or rainy day may have
completely obscured the Sun or Moon
and the available light may not have
played a role at all. Similarly, a payday,
a weekend or a public holiday may have
been the only incentive that played a
significant role in the planned execution
of crimes.
The times of the rise and set of both the
Sun and the Moon varies according to
its location, as result of the curvature of
the Earth. The twilight periods may also
provide some additional lighting even in
the absence of the Moon or Sun.

By using enough data to analyze

statistics, and keeping the above light
independent variables in mind,
propensity to natural light driven
occurrences may emerge.

The Moon and Crime

It is in the nature of criminals to seek a

means of covertly escaping detection in
order to perpetrate their nefarious

deeds. To do this, they must find a way

to operate with the least amount of risk
to themselves to avoid being detected
and thereafter make a clean getaway.

Images: Courtesy of NASA

Written by: Alex Volker
The cover of night is often the most
convenient and least risky time to
commit crime. During daylight hours,
with visibility being high and normally
having many witnesses around, the
chances are higher of being caught.
The challenges faced when sneaking
around at night are, amongst others,
also visibility. In especially a rural
setting, with the lack of artificial light,
which could easily draw attention to a
person; it is difficult to navigate to the
scene of the crime and thereafter
escape before any wrongdoing has
been noticed.

Society has become so dependant on

electricity, that it is difficult to imagine
life without these creature comforts.
Less privileged people, most notably in
rural settings, live mostly in the absence
of artificial light. These groups have
learnt to know and understand how the
Moon provides light in the absence of
Sunlight and how the different phases of
the Moon illuminate the otherwise dark
sky at night.

Among these communities, criminals

take advantage of such knowledge to
orchestrate and plan a strategy. In
doing so, they can cover great
distances on foot to their destinations,
without much of a chance of being

Images: Courtesy of NASA

Written by: Alex Volker
noticed. They can also meet up with a
getaway vehicle a fair distance from the
scene of the crime to make their
escape.

In knowing the phases of the Moon and

the times it rises and sets, due vigilance
can be applied in the periods of high
risk. This information can also be
applied to establish the set trends for
crime syndicates or groups and possibly
find a link as an investigative aid.

The Moon – Definitions and Basic

Information

As the Earth rotates along its axis each

day all celestial bodies, most noticeably
the Sun and the Moon, appear to rise in
the East and set in the West. Sunrise
and Sunset occurs when the upper
edge of the Sun is on the Horizon, in a
location which is largely level and
atmospheric conditions are assumed to
be average. The horizon is the furthest
point one can see where the land meets
the sky, pending no visual barrier
obscuring one’s view.

The Earth’s surface appears to be flat,

but the curvature of the Earth, which is
essentially a sphere, limits the line of
sight regardless of position on the

Images: Courtesy of NASA

Written by: Alex Volker
 globe. Similarly with Moonrise and
Moonset, yet Moonrise and Set can
occur at any time in a 24 hour period
and at a specific location may not occur
at all, on any given day i.e. The Moon
may rise late in the day and only set
again the following day. Also Moonset
may precede Moonrise or the other way
around. Any predictive times of the
above are relative to the longitudinal
and latitudinal co-ordinates of the
location in question.

The time it takes for the moon to rotate

around its own axis once is the same as
the time it takes to orbit around Earth,
therefore we only see one side of the
moon. As a result the “far side” of the
moon is never visible from earth. The
Moon’s size is considerably smaller
than that of the Sun, but because of its
proximity compared to that of the Sun, it
appears to be almost the same size.
This creates the possibility of a full lunar
eclipse.

Twilight is defined as the time before

Sunrise or after Sunset where the influence of the Sun still illuminates the atmosphere
resulting in the partial visibility of terrestrial objects, despite the fact that the Sun is below
the Horizon. This period soon subsides into complete darkness, where The Sun has no
impact at all on natural light at night. The Twilight periods can be sub-divided into three
stages. Civil Twilight is the period directly before Sunrise or after Sunset, objects are still
visible and normal activity in the absence of artificial light is still possible. During Nautical
Twilight the outline of objects are still perceivable, but normal activity without artificial

Images: Courtesy of NASA

Written by: Alex Volker
light is no longer possible. Astronomical Twilight is almost completely dark and the
impact of the sun on the natural light is minimal

Quick Definitions

Term
Astronomical Twilight Rise
Nautical Twilight Rise
Civil Twilight Rise
Sunrise
Sunset
Civil Twilight Set
Nautical Twilight Set
Astronomical Twilight Set
Moonrise
Moonset
Explanation
The Sun rises to18 degrees below the Horizon
The Sun rises to12 degrees below the Horizon
The Sun rises to 6 degrees below the Horizon
The upper edge of the Sun rises to the Horizon
The upper edge of the Sun sets to the Horizon
The Sun sets to 6 degrees below the Horizon
The Sun sets to 12 degrees below the Horizon
The Sun sets to 18 degrees below the Horizon
The upper edge of the Moon rises to the Horizon
The upper edge of the Moon sets to the Horizon

Images: Courtesy of NASA

Written by: Alex Volker
 Phases of the Moon

• It takes approximately 27.5 days for the moon to orbit

around the earth once.

• Crescent is smaller than Quarter

• Gibbous is larger than Quarter

• There are four primary Moon Phases, New Moon, First

Quarter, Last Quarter and Full Moon.

• New Moon occurs when the moon is closest to the Sun

and between the Sun and Earth.

• Full Moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and
the Moon. In most parts of the world Moonset will coincide
with Sunrise and Moonrise with Sunset.

• First and Last Quarters are when the Moon, Earth and Sun
are at a right angle.

• The Illumination of the Moon depends on the relevant

phase, at Full Moon the Illumination is 100%, New Moon
0% and First and Last Quarters at 50%. The Intermediary
Phases increase in percentage when waxing or decrease
when waning. Therefore, the Crescent Phases are
between 0% and 50% and the Gibbous Phases are
between 50% and 100%.

Images: Courtesy of NASA

Written by: Alex Volker