[HPforGrownups] Re: Full Moon (was: Support for the ESE Lupin theory!)

[Shaun Hately]

No: HPFGUIDX 123939

On 4 Feb 2005 at 17:16, pippin_999 wrote:

> 
> 
> --- 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? 

Yes, you are - but it's importantly to remember that depending on 
where you are the astronomical full moon may well be below the 
horizon in any given month (indeed, on average, pretty much half 
the time it will be).

If you are in a region where in a particular month the astronomical 
full moon will be visible that month, then it will rise relatively 
near sunset and set relatively near sunrise. The closer the 
totality point is to your local midnight the closer the rise and 
set will match the rise and set of the sun.

>  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. :)

This is very hard to say. The lore of lycanthropy differs from 
source to source.

Generally speaking, most sources seem to use the term full moon to 
describe a moon that looks full to the human eye. This is a 
different definition from the one astronomers use. Yes, we do have 
a point of totality, but really the difference between what the 
moon looks like 10 minutes before that point and at that point is 
only detectable by pretty fine work. For most purposes - including 
most mythical purposes - a 99% or a 98% or even a 95% full moon 
will be considered a full moon. Sometimes measures like 'the night 
before and after the night of totality' are also full moons.

The implications for this in Harry Potter really are, that JKR can 
define things whichever way she likes. She can say the full moon is 
a three day period. She can say that the change to werewolf happens 
at the moment of totality and persists. In both these cases, Lupin 
should realistically know when it will happen.

Or it may be that it happens when the light of the full moon 
(however defined) hits him.

Or a combination - maybe he changes when the light of a nearly full 
moon hits him - but will change at the moment of totality, 
regardless.

Science can be useful in looking at these things, as can real world 
legends, but in the final analysis, the author can set their own 
rules on this, of course.


Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
Shaun Hately | www.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/thelab.html
(ISTJ)       | drednort at alphalink.com.au | ICQ: 6898200 
"You know the very powerful and the very stupid have one
thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the 
facts. They alter the facts to fit the views. Which can be 
uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that 
need altering." The Doctor - Doctor Who: The Face of Evil
Where am I: Frankston, Victoria, Australia