What Is the Objective of Moon Tracking?

Religion

• Many religions rely on the phases of the moon for their religious worship. For example, the Muslim religious calendar is a lunar calendar, dependent on the location and phases of the moon. Muslim religious holidays, such as the month-long Ramadan, shift their exact dates from year to year as a result of the moon. Many other religions, including Christianity and Judaism, also rely on the position of the moon for some important religious holidays, such as Christian Easter.

Tides

• The moon's gravitational pull on the Earth creates tides in the oceans. People use these tides for many purposes, from fishing to surfing. Therefore, many people need to understand when the tides will come in and out. By understanding the moon's position, people can predict the tides across the globe.

Eclipses

• Tracking the moon helps scientists predict both lunar and solar eclipses. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the moon and the sun and casts a shadow over it. A solar eclipse occurs when the opposite happens, and the moon blocks the sun from the Earth. During a full total eclipse, the sun is completely blocked from Earth, blocking out all sunlight. Moon tracking allows scientists to predict when these events will occur.

Moon Missions

• Many countries, including the United States, China, Russia and India, have active space programs that occasionally send missions to the moon. These missions, which may study the moon itself, perform experiments or test new equipment. These experiments and tests require an accurate understanding of the moon's location and trajectory. Without understanding exactly where the moon is, these space programs could not perform any moon-related missions.