MOON ORBITS THE SUN

by Joseph Stanovsky PhD

2012 by JS

ex vetus ut novus dal vecchio al nuovo a ` partir de lanciene a ` la nouvelle ABSTRACT It will be shown that the velocity of Moon along its path is constant only if the orbit of Moon occurs once per year. This means: (1) that multiple orbits of Moon around Earth can not be used to explain the phases of Moon, (2) that whatever phenomenon is used to explain the phases of Moon must be repetitive and occur every 28.09665 days (365.2565/13), (3) that ocean tides are not attributable to the gravitational effect of either the Sun or Moon, (4) that all past weather explanations are in doubt, (5) that all future explanations of weather events include the daily rotation of Earth.

Figure 1 shows a traditional view of the orbit of Moon around Earth. Neither this traditional explanation of the orbit of Moon or the one presented in this paper affects the actual motion of the Moon. What is at stake is how faithfully we describe the orbit of the Moon. In this paper the Moon orbits the Sun in the same way and in the same time the Earth orbits the Sun. Instead of multiple orbits of Moon of about 27.321 days the duration of one complete Moon orbit of the Sun occurs once each year of about 365.2565 days. The reasons for changing the orbital period of Moon will be fully explained.

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A PREVIEW The duration of one orbit of Moon affects many established concepts about the motion of Moon. Using just one yearly Moon orbit around the Sun requires significant changes in all current explanations of ocean tides, even the effect of gravity between Moon, Earth or Sun. The synchronous rotation of Moon becomes an unnecessary addition that is currently used to explain the same face view of the Moon from Earth. It will be shown that the Moon does not rotate about its centroidal axis nor does it need too. Eight phases of Moon are identified by using scalar products of two vectors to define albedo, three of the phases are shown for the counterclockwise (R to L) orbital motion of Moon.

8 7 6 First quarter

5 Full

4 3 2 Last quarter

INTRODUCTION Observations about the Moon, its lore, history and presence has influenced humans, birds and animals living everywhere on Earth. The early inhabitants of Earth used light from the Moon for night hunting. Although stars and their patterns were a comfort to many night hunters it was the reflected Sun light of the Moon that minimized their dangers. By the end of the 4th century (b.c.e.) astronomers had identified eighty-eight star patterns. These star patterns were given handsome names as were the principal stars in each pattern. Information about the Moon, stars and constellations were considered valuable commodities to Arab traders. Their discoveries were saved by a Sultan, Emir, Sheik or Hakim of city-states like Baghdad (Mesopotamia), Damascus (Syria), Athens (Greece), Istanbul (Turkey) and Cairo (Egypt). Books of magnificent ideas were also considered of value to Arab traders. These saved treasures became a source for recovering the books lost during the destruction of the library in Alexandria (315 b.c.e.). The Geometry of Euclid was one of these great books lost that was recovered (about 1492 i.c.e.) along with many other lost books. Many of the books lost were found in Toledo during the time the Arabs and Jews were expelled from Spain.

CONSTELLATIONS There are billions of stars but only a few are visible from Earth. Some of the stars are remarkable for their brightness, their size or their place in a pattern with other stars. A single constellation may contain millions of stars of which only a few of which are visible. One such constellation is the serpent bearer (Orphiuchus), another is the hunter (Orion). Orion was recognized a constellation before 4000 (b.c.e.). The constellation Orion embraces many, many stars, the best known of which are Rigel, Betelgeuse, the double star Mintaka, Al nilam, Al nibak, Hotsya, Saipe and Meissim. Individual stars and groups of cluster stars translate great distances daily but these stars are so distant from Earth that their local motions are not discernable from Earth. As a consequence, star patterns have not changed much during the past 6000+ years. ZODIAC The concept of zodiac was established before 1000 (b.c.e.). It served as a table of contents to

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the constellations. The zodiac consists of twelve animals in a circle but it could have been 44 or just 13 animals in a circle because it was the circular form of the zodiac that made it possible to view a parade of constellations seen during one month but not seen again for a year. The Zodiac was eventually separated from astronomy to establish astrology which includes the addition of predictions, prophecy and praise, all of which are unpredictable. One such astronomer-astrologer was Giovanni Domenici Cassini (1625-1712). Cassini was a mathematician, engineer, astronomer as well as an astrologer, first to Pope Clement IX and afterward to King Louis XIV.

THE MOON It is useful and informative to review published data about the orbital speed of the Moon. A typical report of the speed of the Moon says it is 1.022 km/sec [1]. A facsimile calculation is shown next with the resultant Moon speed based on an orbital period of 27.321 days of a Moon in circular orbit with a radius of 384,000 km.
days hour minute second km VMoon/E = 2 384,000 km orbit (27.321 orbit 24 day 60 hour 60 minute ) = 1.022 sec

(1)

THE EARTH AND MOON If the orbital period of Earth is changed to 365.2565 days and an equation like eq. (1) is used to calculate the speed of Earth the velocity of Earth is defined imn eq. (2).
km seconds km Earth: VEarth= 939,336,000 orbit 31,558,162 orbit = 29.7431 seconds (2) Furthermore, if the orbital period of Moon is revised to 365.2565 days the speed of Moon is defined in eq. (3). km seconds km Moon: VMoon= {939,336,000 +2 384,000} orbit 31,558,162 orbit = 29.8417 seconds Thus, the relative velocity of Moon to Earth is 0.09858 km/sec and not 1.022 km/sec.

(3)

VMoon VEarth = 29.841729.7431 = 0.09858 km/sec

Acceleration of Moon /Sun 2 2 -6 2 = v /r = 28.8517 / (149500000 +344000) = 5.5525 x 10 km/sec /Sun 2 -6 2 Acceleration of Earth = 29.7431 /149500000 = 5.7939 10 km/sec

(4)

LIBRATION Moon libration is demonstrated by sequential photographs of the surface of Moon. Each successive photograph is different from that of a previous photograph. From this photographic evidence it is suggested that libration is due to a change in the distance from a camera on Earth to the surface of Moon and this change in distance is likely caused by the daily rotation of Earth around an axis tilted relative to the ecliptic of Earth.

THE SCALAR VECTOR PRODUCT There are three multiplication protocols in the mechanics of vector algebra [3, 4]. They are: (1) a magnification factor, (2) the scalar or dot product of two vectors and (3) the vector or cross product of two vectors. Of the three multiplication protocols the application of the scalar product is used to locate a

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particular Moon phase. The dot product is a product of vector magnitudes A , B and Cosine where is the angle between vectors A and B. Schoutens [5] matrix tensor notation is demonstrated in eq. (5) as is the method for calculating the dot product AB. A1 B1 AB = A2 B2 =A1B1+A2B2+A3B3 (5) A3 B3 If A and B are unit vectors AA = 1 and BB =1. If the unit vector A = B the vectors are parallel and AB = 1. If the unit vectors A and B are orthogonal then AB = 0. The zero dot product of two unit vectors identify a phase of the Moon. THE ORBIT OF MOON AROUND THE EARTH Traditional descriptions of the motion of Moon are given by Thurston [6], and by Katz, Heath, Aczel and Robert Newton [7-10]. Sirtoli [11] describes the traditional dynamics of tides while Sawicki [12] discusses the myths of ocean tides and gravity. These traditional descriptions about the orbit of Moon around Earth have ancient origins. The concept of Moon rotating about its centroidal axis was a suggestion developed in the 15th or 16th century (i.c.e.). The synchronistic rotation of Moon, thought then and now, is used to explain why only one face of Moon is visible from Earth. The need to revise the duration of Moon orbit can be explained mathematically using kinematic equations that describe the orbital motion of Moon or by performing an experiment. A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT The results of this thought experiment are equivalent to a mathematical proof: two bicycle riders, A and B, of which bike rider A portrays the motion of Earth while rider B the Moon. (1) In the first of three experiments bike rider A remains stationary. The rider of bike B pedals around bike A. Both riders observe that rider B can circumnavigate bike A at a constant speed or at a variable speed. (2) In the second experiment bike riders A and B begin riding parallel with rider A on the left and rider B on the right. On a prescribed signal rider B pedals faster and when ahead of bike A steers around bike A by turning left and then left again, now travelling opposite the direction of bike A. As soon as bike B passes bike A rider B turns left and then left again and by fast pedalling catches up to bike A. When bike riders B and A are again parallel and travelling the same speed and in the same direction bike rider B speeds up again and after getting ahead of bike rider A turns left, and left again, thus repeating the experiment. In experiment (2) both bike riders report that orbiting a translating bike at a constant speed is not possible because the orbit of a translating bike requires changes in the linear velocity of bike B along its path. A velocity change is equivalent to acceleration but there is no evidence to indicate velocity changes along the trajectory of the Moon have been observed. Thus, the experiment of two bikers in rotary motion do not adequately describe the motion of Moon. (3) In a third experiment, both bike riders A and B orbit a pylon (representing the Sun). Rider A pedals a circular path of radius 10 meters from the pylon. Bike rider B pedals in the same direction as bike rider A but about 15 meters from the pylon. Riders A and B pedal so their bikes remain adjacent and parallel. Because the riders of bikes A and B remain parallel and both are at constant speed neither

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bike accelerates parallel to its trajectory. It is important to note that of the many observers of the Moon no one of them has ever suspected, mentioned or discovered acceleration of the Moon. If the results of the third experiment are applied to the orbital speed of Moon then this experiment proves the orbital speed of Moon along its trajectory is constant. RESULTS OF THE PARALLEL ORBIT THEORY Earth and Moon orbit the Sun in a counterclockwise direction. The Moon is visible nightly somewhere on Earth as a result of the daily rotation of Earth. Figure 2 shows the Sun and its equatorial plane defined by the ecliptic of Earth and Moon.

No stars are shown in Fig 2 but stars, constellations and other phenomena can be imagined to completely surround the volume of space around the Sun.

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Figure 3 shows just one month or a 27.692 segment of the equatorial plane of the Sun. The line connecting the Sun to Earth and Earth to Moon is shown centrally located, the time of a Full Moon. This line rotates with an angular velocity of 360 per year.

Figure 4 shows Sun, centrally located, surrounded by 13 Moons. The arrow points to a segment of sky with a view of the monthly constellations. The arrow, or line from Sun to Earth and Sun to Moon rotates counterclockwise at a constant rate of 360 per year. As a consequence, both Earth and Moon rotate to new positions. The orbit of Sun by Earth and Moon is continuous.

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The ordinate in Fig 5 is calculated from a dot product * using 5 trigonometric phase angles , from 0 to 180 in 45 increments. The abscissa in Fig 5 is defined by Moon day number, from N = 0 to N = 28 days. Not only Moon phases can be identified by a dot product but it is likely that craters like Euler, Messier, Moltke or Webb can also be located. Two solid line graphs in Fig 5 identify phases of the first quarter, the full Moon and the last quarter. Other zero abscissa crossings locate five other phases of the Moon. They are: a new Moon, the waxing crescent, the waning gibbous and waning crescent. The abscissa, usually left to right, is instead the day number N from right to left which correlates with the approximate 28 day counterclockwise rotation of Moon around the Sun. The position of the Sun in Fig 5 correlates with what astronomers say about the position of the Sun when viewing the stars: the sun shines into the face of the constellations. LOCATING A PHASE OF MOON BY A SCALAR DOT PRODUCT The Earth and Moon in Fig 6 are shown exiting one month and entering the next. The principal X and Y axes are located at the center of the Sun, so distant from the Moon are not shown but parallel x, y axes are shown at the center of Earth.
Moon Boundary y

x Earth

2 = Tan1 360/13 = 27.6923 = 90

Figure 6: The Moon and Earth are shown at a boundary where they are exiting one month and entering the next. The start gate is defined by and the stop gate by +360/13. The boundary line connecting Sun to Earth to Moon is initially congruent with unit vector . The unit vector is orthogonal to . The boundary line remains fixed whereas the line from Sun to Moon rotates . During one month the rotary motion of is limited to the region < < (+360/13). The unit vectors and in eq. (6) are those shown in Fig 6 except for unit vector , not shown in Fig 6, which is orthogonal to the plane. Cos = Sin 0 Sin = Cos 0 0 = 0 1 (6)

The number of days for Earth and Moon to rotate 2 radian (360/13) occurs in 28 days. Thus, the angle in eq. (2) is replaced by (2 (N-1)/28+) in which N is in the range 1 < N < 29. The results are shown in eq. (3). Cos (2 (N-1)/28)+ Sin (2 (N-1)/28)+ 0 * = Sin (2 (N-1)/28)+ * = Cos (2 (N-1)/28)+ * = 0 (3) 0 0 1 Possible locations of a Moon phase are identified by the vector dot product * in which the kernel letter of vector is the Greek majuscule (alpha). The angle in unit vector is defined for day N of the 28 days of Moon orbit. Vector includes a shift angle .

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Cos +([360/13] +(N-29)*360/28 = Sin +([360/13] +(N-29)*360/28 (4) 0 Twenty-eight solutions are developed from dot products * for values of selected. A zero dot product is assumed to indicate zero albedo (dark). A YEAR OF 13 MONTHS A year with 13 months has many interesting features. For example, a year of 13 months in a year in which each has 4, seven day weeks of 28 days accounts for 364 days. With one happy day added, a 13 month year has 365 days, exactly the same as it is currently. This is repaired by adding a day every four or so years (incalendation). There are three advantages of a 13 month year: (1) the 13th of any month will not ever occur on a Friday, (2) a person born on a Tuesday, for example, will celebrate her or his birthday on a Tuesday every year, and (3) all salaried persons work during a uniform pay period. Month 13 could be named HeyHey. HeyHey could be a winter month with little farm work and possibly free of taxes. Consider this tax-free month provides the 7.7% of wages that a citizen should save. Imagine the joy of purchasing clothes, a helicopter or a submarine. In a year of 13 months the phases of Moon occur within 28.09665 days (365.256/13) with a gap of 0.3878 days ( (28.09665-27.321)/2 ) between a phase end and a phase start. A typical month begins after the radius from Sun to Earth and from Sun to Moon rotates 360/13 or 27.7 from the beginning of a month.

CONCLUSIONS The actual motion of Earth and Moon is independent of theories that describe the motion. The traditional theory describes the orbit of Moon around the Earth whereas a theory about the orbit of Moon around the Sun differs significantly different. Consider just two differences, both exist in the traditional theory but are absent in the new. (1) a requirement for the synchronous rotation of Moon, and (2) for 13+ yearly orbits of Moon around the Earth the velocity of Moon along its trajectory will produce visible accelerations; these velocity changes have never been reported by an observer or astronomer. Their absence is proof the velocity of Moon on its track is a constant. A thought experiment reveals a flaw about the duration of an orbit of Moon around the Earth. Traditionally, it is assumed the time for one orbit of Moon around the Earth is the same as the duration of one cycle of the phases of Moon. This is an assumption without proof. A review of the orbit of Moon requires a change in the duration of one orbit around Earth from 27.321 days to one orbit per year (365.2565 days). A method for correlating a particular phase feature of the Moon to the position of Moon during any one of 13-months was introduced. The likely position of a specific Moon phase feature was correlated to the angular position of the Moon during any of the thirteen months by using the scalar products of two vectors as measures of albedo. The same method can be used to locate craters on the Moon. In a comment about Moon libration it was suggested (without proof) that variations in the sequential photographs of Moon are due to changes in the viewing distance from a site on Earth to the Moon caused by the daily rotation of Earth around a tilted axis. The concept of the synchronous rotation of Moon about its centroidal axis is not necessary or required. In the theory presented the Moon shows only one face.

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REFERENCES 1. Figure 1 is a facsimile of: http//en.Wikipedia.org/Wiki/Moon, p. 11. 2. Moon Libration: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/moon 3. Walter Jaunzemis: Continuum Mechanics, MacMillan Company, New York, 1967 pps. 4, 34, 67. 4. Andrew Pytel, Jaan Kiusalaas; Engineering Mechanics: Statics & Dynamics, Harper, 1994. 5. Jan Arnoldus Schouten; Tensor Analysis for Physicists, 2nd ed, Clarendon Press, Oxford, England, 1954. 6. Hugh Thurston; Early Astronomy, Springer, 1994, New York. 7. Victor Katz, Ed: The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India and Islam: A Source Book, Princeton University Press, 2007. 8. Thomas L Heath: The Copernicus of Antiquity (Aristarcus of Samos), Oxford, 1913. 9. Amir Aczel: Descartess Secrete Notebook: A True Tale of Mathematics, Mysticism, and the Quest to Understand the Universe, Broadway, 2005. 10. Robert R Newton; The Secular Acceleration of the Earths Spin, Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest, v.6, #2, 120-129, 1985. 11. Paolo Sirtoli: Tides and Centrifugal Force (La Maree e la Forza Centrifugali), 2005. http://www.vialattea.net/maree/eng/index.htms 12. Mikolaj Sawicki: Myths about Gravity and Tides http://www.jal.cc.il.us/_mikolajsawicki 13. Animation: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/moon_phases 14. Animation: http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases.pntml 15. Animation depicting non-synchronous and synchronous Moon orbit of Earth; http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonphase/

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