What is a “Theatrical Moon Light”?

26 March 2015

The Short Answer (TSA)

                  "Moon Light"

            A moon light is type of “intelligent” theatrical lighting equipment sometimes used in large stage productions but, most often, used in outdoor shows such as stadium halftime shows.  The name “moon light” comes from the obviously spherical appearance of the light instrument itself which is attached to a set of arms (or legs) that allow it to move in all directions.

             Today, the term moon light is seldom used having been replaced with the term “moving head.”  A profile view gives a better idea of where the new name came from.  The word “moving” was added to the name because these lights are pre-programmed to move to certain locations at certain times.  

"Moving Heads"

             If you decide to watch the lights instead of the show, they present an odd picture as they suddenly shift and move, sometimes together and sometimes individually, apparently by themselves.  Of course, the movement of these lights is not only remotely controlled but, often, pre-programmed with a computer directing the moment to moment movements.
 

            In outdoor venues, such as the Super bowl halftime shows, theatrical lighting has always been a bit of a challenge.

            Outdoor venues, after dark, require particularly powerful lights to properly display the performers and their performances.   And, because outdoor venues do not offer a fixed stage with easy access to areas not visible to the audience, lighting is often used to introduce and feature different scenes or shows presented in a single outdoor performance. 

             In a basic example, three separate shows could be set up, one timed to follow the other, in different locations, but within a single outdoor venue such as a stadium field.  Two of the three “theaters” will be allowed to remain in darkness and invisible to the audience until one show ends and the next is to begin. 

             With the beginning of each of the three shows, the featured show is brilliantly illuminated, while all light is withdrawn from the location of the show that has just ended.  In a sense, the lighting works like a stage curtain in a conventional theater – timing the end of one “scene” and the beginning of another.

About the Author

Other "Moon's" of Interest:

“Moon Rabbit”?  

“Moon Bird Mistake”?

“Bomber’s Moon”?

TV Series “Moonlighting”?

“Cattle Moonlighting”?

“Moon Diet”?

“Cheshire Moon”?

“Moon Landing Conspiracy”?

What is the “Moon Bird Mistake”?

19 March 2015

The Short Answer (TSA)

In ancient times, travel was both slow and rare. Without being able to gad about from place to place, some answers that seem obvious to us, today, eluded our ancestors completely. Over many centuries, there was a major question that was the focus of great scientific speculation. Where do certain species of birds go during the winter? Some birds, of course, stick around, but why do others disappear only to reappear the following spring.

Not to worry. The question was finally resolved in the 16th century when mapmaker and writer Olaus Magnus solved the problem of where swallows went during the winter. These birds simply gather together in the autumn of each year in flocks. Then, together, they all sink themselves into a river. Reaching the bottom, the flock buries itself in the clay of the river bottom. The birds remain buried in the mud until the following spring when they reemerge.

Fortunately, this nonsensical theory was soon challenged by Charles Morton, an English minister and scientist. Although Morton was no more widely traveled than Magnus, and certainly had no actual evidence, he felt he didn’t need any. Reason alone could solve the bird migration problem. And, in a treatise, Morton explained that migrating birds flew to the moon every autumn and back to earth every spring.

Calculating a surprisingly close estimate of the actual distance from the earth to the moon, Morton figured the birds flew at about 125 mph on a 60 day journey to the moon. He explained that there was, honestly, no other reasonable conclusion. After all, a number of bird species disappeared entirely in the early fall. Since none were seen on earth, again, until spring, the only place they could possibly go was . . . into space. And if you’re flying into space, the only reasonably close destination was the moon.

Morton pointed out that Magnus’ theory about the swallows sinking themselves into the clay of river bottoms, was after all, a bit ridiculous. There was no air to breath at the bottom of a river and the cold would have been deadly.

On the other hand, it only made good sense that the birds, noticing their diminishing food supply in the winter, would take off into space. The flight, though long, was actually easy. Without air, the vacuum of space eliminated all air resistance and made flight easy. So, easy, the birds could sleep through most of the trip.

In fairness to Morton, he drew on the best scientific opinions of his time which included descriptions of the moon as a lush body full of forests, plants, rivers and lakes. There was even a legend of one man having been “flown” there by a bunch of birds. Although taken as “a tall tale” in its own time, by Morton’s day, the legend had morphed into a scientific fact and was an important part of the evidence thought to confirm Morton’s theory.

About the Author

Other "Moon's" of Interest:

“Moon Rabbit”?  

“Bomber’s Moon”?

TV Series “Moonlighting”?

“Cattle Moonlighting”?

“Moon Diet”?

“Cheshire Moon”?

“Moon Landing Conspiracy”?

What is a “Mock Moon”?

5 March 2015

The Short Answer (TSA)

            Mock moons are rare.  Chances are, few have ever seen one of these first hand.  So, to understand what a mock moon is, you have to, first, understand what a moon ring is.

Moon Ring

            A ring of soft light or luminescent ring sometimes forms around the Moon on dark nights.  This “halo” is caused by the Moon’s light passing through millions of ice crystals high in the atmosphere. 

            Traditionally, a ring around the Moon meant that storms were on the way.  And, in fact, a ring often appears when the Moon can be seen through a thin layer of clouds covering the sky.   The thin layer is made up of cirrus clouds, which often do come a few days before a storm front.

            Because of the shape of the ice crystals, rings form a circle around the Moon that is always about 22 degrees away from the Moon itself.  How far is 22 degrees?  Well, looking up in the sky, extend your arm toward the Moon and look at the size of your hand.  That’s about 22 degrees. 

            How does a “mock moon” fit into all of this? 

            When there is a ring around the moon, very rarely, a large bright spot appears somewhere on the ring.  The spot is circular and appears as a slightly fainter visual version -- a kind of visual echo -- of the nearby moon.  The moon must be bright, more than half full, to produce enough light to form any mock moon at all.
  

Moon & "Mock Moon"

            Could someone mistake a mock moon for the real thing?  Well, not if both the real moon and mock moon were in the sky together.  The mock moon is much fainter than the actual moon.  So much fainter, that it would never stand up to a side-by-side comparison with the real thing.  

            Maybe, if trees, mountains or other objects just happened to be blocking your view of the moon, you might mistake the mock moon for the real thing.  Even, then, the real moon would be so close-by in the sky that you would probably soon discover the mistake.  

About the Author

Other "Moon's" of Interest:

“Moon Rabbit”?  

“Moon Bird Mistake”?

“Bomber’s Moon”?

TV Series “Moonlighting”?

“Cattle Moonlighting”?

“Moon Diet”?

“Cheshire Moon”?

“Moon Landing Conspiracy”?

What is a “Sap Moon”?

5 March 2015

The Short Answer (TSA)

            The March full moon has many names including the “Sap Moon.”  Sap refers to the sap of the maple tree.  March was the time of year when Maple trees were “tapped” for syrup.

            Although no longer just a product of North American maple trees, maple syrup was unknown to Europeans before the first colonies were established in North America.  Native North Americans had been “tapping” maple trees for centuries before the first Europeans arrived in North America. 

            The maple tree stores its starch-rich sap in its trunk and roots which, in the spring, is converted into sugar and rises up to fuel new spring growth.  At some unknown date, native north Americans began boring holes in the trunks of these trees and allowing the sap to flow into containers.  The watery sap is then boiled to remove the water -- leaving a thick sweet syrup.

            Early European settlers were introduced to the process of maple sap harvesting and, in turn, introduced the rest of the world to maple syrup.  This originally North American product has been a relatively quiet hit throughout the world ever since.

            Everyone knows maple syrup, but forgets that, to early American settlers, this syrup was used to produce so much more including sugar – maple sugar – maple butter, maple cream, as well as a popular candy and signature taffy. 

            In spite of its simple, homey reputation, maple syrup is recognized by culinary experts, the world over, as providing a unique flavor and is used in many different dishes prepared throughout the world.

            Not only is maple syrup “graded” into many different varieties, but has been divided into 91 different flavors grouped into 13 families.  Maple syrup tasters, like wine tasters, regularly exercise their skills to properly evaluate and classify particular batches of maple syrup.

            Quebec, Canada remains the top world producer of maple syrup.  The process of extracting the sap from the trees has been technologically streamlined over the decades, but maple syrup still comes from farms (called “sugarbushes”) and is still boiled to remove water in a shelter called a “sugar shack."

About the Author

Other "Moon's" of Interest:

“Moon Rabbit”?  

“Moon Bird Mistake”?

“Bomber’s Moon”?

TV Series “Moonlighting”?

“Cattle Moonlighting”?

“Moon Diet”?

“Cheshire Moon”?

“Moon Landing Conspiracy”?