W5LUU Moon Data for year 2002

MOONDATA UPDATE- 2002 AND RELATED EME TRIVIA by Derwin King, W5LUU

The distance from the earth to the moon and cosmic noise from the direction of the moon are predictable, cyclical variables that affect the quality of the EME communications path. Data on the signal-to-noise degradation (DGRD) attributable to these factors, referenced in dB to the best possible conditions, are listed on the next page for each Sunday at 0000 UT in 2002. These provide a guide to the 144MHz and 432 MHz weekend conditions and other relevant data.

In 2002 the average EME conditions continue to deteriorate as moon perigee occurs at greater hours of right ascension where the sky noise (temperature) is generally higher. This trend toward higher DGRD will continue for the next 3 to 4 years as the position of perigee vs RA proceeds along its near 9 year cycle. DGRD will then begin to improve and will be very low again in 2007-2010 as perigee is within a few hours RA of cold sky. Meanwhile don't give up. As can be seen there are several VERY GOOD weekends in April - August of 2002. However, there are no good contest weekends in the traditional Sept.-Nov. ARRL contest period. When DGRD is good then Declination is too low for most of us. I recommend ARRL 2002 EME Contest dates in the April-June period for VERY GOOD conditions and High Declinations. Best days during 2002 and the DGRD are: Jan 1 (,5dB), Jan 29 (.2dB), Feb 25 (.3dB), Mar. 25 (.5dB), Apr 21 (.8dB), May 18 (1.0dB), Jun 14 (.9), Jul 12 (.7), Aug 8 (.6 but NM), Sep 4/5 (.6), Oct 2 (.8), Oct 29 (1.1), Nov 25/26 (1.3), Dec 23 (1.2). Good luck and 73.

W5LUU WEEKEND MOONDATA - 2002 FOR SUNDAYS AT 0000 UTC
Date

2002
Dec.deg.
RA hrs.
144 MHz

Temp.K
Range

Factor
DGRD, dB

144 MHz
DGRD, dB

432MHz
MoonPhase
CONDITIONS
Jan. 06
-0.6
12.9
313
0.76
2.8
1.3


    
Moderate
13
-24.2
19.2
773
1.82
7.2
3.9
NM-14h
Very Poor
20
-0.5
0.8
277
2.24
3.9
2.7


    
Moderate
27
24.3
6.8
388
0.64
3.4
1.5
FM-2d
Moderate
Feb. 03
-5.0
13.6
328
0.65
2.9
1.1


    
Moderate
10
-23.6
19.8
450
2.01
5.3
3.0
NM-2d
Poor
17
3.2
1.3
290
2.26
4.0
2.7


    
Moderate
24
24.2
7.4
322
0.66
2.8
1.2
FM-3d
Moderate
Mar  03
-8.9
14.1
361
0.47
3.0
1.1
 
Moderate
10
-22.4
20.5
339
2.12
4.4
2.7


    
Poor
17
7.0
1.8
313
2.24
4.3
2.8
NM+3d
Poor
24
23.6
8.0
221
0.77
1.7
1.0


    
Good
31
-12.3
14.7
395
0.37
3.2
1.1
FM+2d
Moderate
Apr  07
-20.7
21.1
336
2.14
4.4
2.7


    
Poor
14
10.7
2.4
350
2.14
4.6
2.7
NM+2d
Poor
21
22.3
8.7
182
0.87
1.2
0.9


    
VERY GOOD
28
-15.2
15.2
431
0.41
3.6
1.2
FM+1d
Moderate
May  05
-18.6
21.7
316
2.10
4.2
2.6


    
Poor
12
14.0
3.0
365
1.98
4.6
2.6
NM-11h
Poor
19
20.0
9.4
179
0.89
1.1
0.9


    
VERY GOOD
26
-18.0
15.7
485
0.61
4.2
1.6
FM-1d
Poor
Jun. 02
-16.1
22.3
259
2.08
3.5
2.5


    
Moderate
09
16.9
3.5
357
1.81
4.3
2.4
NM-2d
Poor
16
16.8
10.1
190
0.79
1.2
0.8


    
VERY GOOD
23
-20.5
16.4
646
0.88
5.6
2.1
FM-1d
Very Poor
30
-13.3
22.8
244
2.10
3.3
2.4


    
Moderate
July 07
19.3
4.1
370
1.68
4.3
2.4
NM-3d
Poor
14
13.1
10.8
206
0.59
1.2
0.7


    
VERY GOOD
21
-22.7
17.1
994
1.15
7.6
3.0
FM-2d
Very Poor
28
-10.1
23.3
244
2.16
3.4
2.5


    
Moderate
Aug  04
21.5
4.6
421
1.62
4.7
2.5


    
Very Poor
11
9.2
11.4
231
0.34
1.4
0.5
NM+3d
VERY GOOD
18
-24.4
17.8
2692
1.34
11.9
5.4


    
Very Poor
25
-6.6
23.8
249
2.25
3.5
2.6
FM+2d
Moderate
Sept 01
23.3
5.2
487
1.64
5.3
2.7


    
Very Poor
08
5.5 
12.0
259
0.13
1.5
0.5
NM+17h
Very good but NM
15
-25.4
18.5
1912
1.41
10.5
5.5


    
Very Poor
22
-2.9
0.3
264
2.32
3.8
2.8
FM+4h
Moderate
29
24.8
5.8
485
1.69
5.5
3.0


    
Very Poor
Oct. 06
2.0
12.5
310
0.05
2.1
0.6
NM-11h
Good but NM
13
-25.4
19.2
738
1.39
6.6
3.4


    
Very Poor
20
0.9
0.9
279
2.34
4.0
2.8
FM-1d
Moderate
27
25.7
6.5
415 
1.70
4.7
2.7


    
Very Poor
Nov  03
-1.6
13.0
313
0.15
2.2
0.7
NM-2d
GOOD
10
-24.8
19.9
436
1.32
4.5
2.3


    
Poor
17
4.5
1.4
293
2.31
4.1
2.8
FM-3d
Poor
24
25.7
7.2
339
1.59
3.9
2.2


    
Moderate
Dec. 01
-5.5
13.5
323
0.37
2.5
0.8
NM-3d
GOOD
08
-23.6
20.5
344
1.29
3.7
1.9


    
Moderate
15
8.1
1.9
316
2.26
4.3
2.8


    
Poor
22
24.7
7.9
229
1.36
2.4
1.6
FM+2d
GOOD
29
-9.7
14.1
357
0.60
3.1
1.2


    
Moderate