Full Moon (was: Support for the ESE Lupin theory!)

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 123908


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Renee" 
> Fact is, that the full moon rises at sunset (and sets at sunrise), 
> give or take a few minutes depending on where you are in the 
world. 

Pippin:
Yes and no. Shaun or one of our other astronomy buffs  will set 
me straight on this if I am wrong, but astronomically, the moon is 
full only for a moment, which can be day or night depending on 
where you are.  Am I right? 

For example, according to the Farmer's Almanac, 
the full moon will occur at 3:58 PM EST on March 25  2005. 
Sunset for that day is 6:13 PM (in New York City).

Lupin asks Hermione whether she noticed that he was always ill 
at the full moon. (This does not, of course, preclude his being ill 
at other times such as Christmas.) Lupin's absences *must* 
occur in the daytime-- otherwise how in heck would Hermione 
know about them? 

 Apparently he transforms for a period around when  the moon is 
full astronomically, and remains that way for some  time -- 
perhaps six hours to so since he has reverted to human form by 
"firs' thing this mornin'".   And it *is* important, because he 
should have known, by the lunar chart, exactly when he was 
going to transform. At least that's my explanation. It makes 
sense of the canon and to borrow a phrase, I'm sticking to it. :)


Pippin