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George.

I must admit I am confused, but as even you admit to being confused I do
not feel so bad. But it appears to me that the answer to this problem
should really be very simple. If I am being a simpleton I would be happy if
you would tell me why.

This, I think, is a truism. Assuming that the error in measuring a lunar
distance is invariant with time, (or depends only on instrument error,
rounding errors in the tables and so forth and does not depend
significantly on the position of the moon or the other celestial object in
the sky), the accuracy of the lunar distance method depends on the rate of
change of lunar distance between the moon and any given celestial object.

This being the case, is there an identifiable acceleration (+ or -) in the
lunar distance as the moon rises in the East, passes the meridian and then
sets in the West?

If there is, then we can say that there are possibly certain times when it
is best to take a lunar distance measurement (depending on just how big the
acceleration is). If not, then it does not matter.

Geoffrey Kolbe.

   

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