[600MRG] TA/TP WSPR Correlating to Phases of the Moon?

[James Hollander]

All,
As a rule of thumb, it has been reasonable for 630m station operators to be especially alert for TP opportunities within a day of each lunar quarter.   Ditto for TA opportunities prior to equinox.  A following post updates the TA/TP data and does not try to explain why it's happening.  





 
We will see if any instances of 630m TP may still occur in the next two weeks, especially around 3rd quarter Oct. 14-16 and new moon 23-25.  A partial solar eclipse is expected 2145Z Oct. 23.  As VK-ZL spring progresses, 630m operators may even beat the mounting odds against TP after late October. 

 
This post updates of trans-Atlantic TA and N.America/VK-ZL trans-Pacific TP information relative to phases of the moon since my September posts .  We are now about three weeks into fall past autumnal equinox in N. hemisphere and three weeks into spring past vernal equinox in S. hemisphere.
 
Remarkable lunar phase bunching of TA occurred prior to equinox.  Not surprisingly, TA has spread out to other days as fall progresses and nights lengthen over the North Atlantic.  
 
Lunar phase bunching of 630m TP has occurred on four different days associated with lunar quarters. (Lunar quarters mean 1st qtr, full, 3rd qtr, new moon.) These lunar quarter TP days have ranged before and after equinox.  
 
The lunar phase TP data is not conclusive. TP occurred on two days in early mid-September not associated with lunar quarters.  However, the bunching around lunar quarters is remarkable because fewer calendar days of every week are associated with lunar quarters than not.                       73,  Jim H   W5EST