The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md Foiz Hossain

Introducing with our be loving moon

Moon is the most familiar as well as common phenomena to the all sorts of people on this earth. Also the largest satellite in relation to its planet in the entire solar system. It is the first body in the solar system on which vehicles from Earth landed and the only one to be explored by human. On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to step onto the surface of the Moon. He was followed by Edwin Aldrin, both of the Apollo 11 mission. The distance of the moon from the earth is 406711 kilometre (furthest in 1912) to 356375 kilometre (closest in 1984) and the average distance is 384403 kilometer (approximately), mass 734556000000 tones. The moon's gravity is one-sixth that of the Earth's; a man who weighs 180 lbf (pound-force) on Earth weighs only 30 lbf on the Moon. The rotation of the Moon and its revolution around Earth takes 27 days, 7 hours, and 43 minutes, and the surface temperature is -163°C to + 117C. There is no atmosphere in surface of the moon. The surface of the moon is naturally made of stones, inorganic substance. It has no light of its own but shines by sunlight reflected from its surface.

Change of the seasons and observing the festival

A heavenly body which man feels close to him is the moon. The moon reflects the sun's strong light and shine softly on the earth as if caring for all things with its dewy light. Because of its affectionate nature, the moon has been adored by people both in the orient and in west some respectfully termed it lunar goddess. In contrast to the harsh sunshine, the moon sends out but pale rays. The moon is also an object of scientific research. People now feel psychologically closer to it because of successful of mankind. The moon announces the changes of the seasons by means of its changing configuration and location and provides a rhythm to human life. Its gentleness was made the object of the poems, novels and music. Some times few of us do not believe in Almighty Allah but when the moon is seen at night with innumerable glittering stars they should at least realize it is impossible for anybody else to arrange those things except God. They don't know Almighty Allah's power knows no bounds. The Arabic months is totally depends on subject to the appearance of the moon. Accordingly all of the Muslim religious festivals like Shab-e-Barat, the holy Ramadan (practicing fasting) to Eid-ul-Fitre (1st Shawal) the biggest Muslim festival for Muslim, 10lh Muharram (which is being called Ashura), Eid-ul-Azha the second Muslim festival depends on subject to the appearance of the moon and many others.

In the religion of Hindu the Laxipuja, Durgapuja (Bijoya Dosomi) depends on the appearance of the moon though dates have been fixed even it become the heritage. The Kalipuja has been observing the day of a new moon simultaneously.

Now about the religion of Buddha, we of course concern about the Buddha Pumima (being called the Baishakhi Pumima), Gautama Buddha born on that day. (Here Purnima means the full moon) Another one is Maghi Pumima which day Gautama Buddha successfully attained his esoteric power called Siddhartha observed by the Buddhists. Madhu Pumima also observed by the Buddhists. No doubt totally depends on subject to the appearance of the moon. Scientists always confess that human society is influenced by nature.

Influenced of the moon on climate

In agriculture, crop yields are influenced by climate but damage brought is often considered to be related to the duration of sunshine alone. Yet the moon counts as it controls water, as is clear in its relation to the ebb and flow of the tides. Because of the moon the sun's energy can be fully utilized. For instance, plants actively absorb moisture from the ground during a new moon to a full moon. Then moisture moves into the ground from a full moon to a new moon, during which period the plants become less juicy. These functions of the moon suggest that the best time for fertilizer application is the period between the new moon and full moon. Coupled with the solar energy, the crops organize photosynthesis to assimilate nutrients and moisture. Both solar and lunar function together help crops give rich harvests.

The relation between Human life and the moon

The Chinese scientist used to believe that the moon is also appropriately used as a part of the characters that mean the different internal organs. Each of the characters meaning the lung, the heart, the liver, the kidney, the spleen, the pancreas, the large intestine, the small intestine, the stomach and almost all bodily organs have the character of the moon within them. Besides, the character for the arm, brain, belly, skin and other bodily parts are also composed with the character of the moon. Education by Chinese character consists of teaching and rearing. The character for rearing illustrates a baby that is being delivered out of a mother womb; this is also has the "moon" Character as one of its parts. The ancient people thus recognized the relation between the life and the moon. It also indicates that life is closely related to water, since the moon control the tides.

When viewing the relation between the moon and the human body, one may note the influence of the moon on the blood. It is well known fact that the ingredients of the blood are surprisingly similar to those of sea water. Just as the waxing and waning of the moon bring about the ebb and flow of the tide, so does the movement of the tide influences the condition of the blood. During high tides, the heart is activated and pumps out blood more vigorously. As an example, if one is injured during a high tide, bleeding is greater, while it is less during low tide.

It is scientifically proven that there is a relationship between birth of life and the cycle of the moon. Many cases have been recorded in this regard. Although the time and date of the delivery of a baby is medically controlled according to the convenience of the mother or the hospital now-a-days under natural condition a baby is born at a time of a high tide, after having been nurtured in its mother womb for ten months and ten days (by the lunar calendar) the waves of a totally calm sea are counted at 18 times a minute, which is the same as that of the breath of a human being. This, however is not a coincidence. Except for death due to an accident, man dies at a time of a low tide.

Man's birth and death are thus influenced these tides. This is, as is well known, connected with the movement of the moon with a distance of 384403 kilometer (approximately), from the earth. When that interaction is further enlarged in thinking about the relationship of human being with the universe, one can realize that the life of man also created by universe. For this reason, a human being, a microcosm or a miniature universe can easily be seen as such. I am greatly impressed by a report on a medical experiment which states that within a human body the memory of the past 20 billion year history of the universe since the big bang is vividly recorded.

Recent astronomical research has shown, as mentioned above that out of nine planets in the Solar system only on earth can living things be found. This was made possible by the presence of the sea and for this reason the earth is called a watery planet. In studying the history of living beings on the earth, the fossil of bacteria is known to be about 3.5 billion years old. Since the emergence of the first living creature life has been nurtured has evolved under sea. After many years the algae began producing oxygen through photosynthesis. The atmosphere then, having prepared for living things to come up on land about 400 million years ago, contained enough oxygen. One may rapidly comprehend the influence of the body on the sea on the body of that was born at the end of the history of creation of species on earth.

From view point of the scientific study, more unknown elements are said to exist in the sea than universe. The sea is yet to be developed, and its resources could be tapped to provide even more energy and resources. With such potential, it is all the more regrettable to hear that the sea is polluted due to selfish acts of the man who does not appreciate his place in the world.

The earth is breathing with the energy of fire that it receives from the sun and water that is the sea which synchronizes with the movement of the moon. Embraced by this mysterious interaction between fire and water, the earth supports the human beings and other living things. It is an irreplaceable mother body for all living things.

In this age of urbanization moonlight bathing is practiced. Young people living in the hustle and bustle of cities must feel natural moon light as fresh and even mysterious. They seem to say just looking up at the moon inspires solemnity in us. These young people seeking rich values have discovered the mystery of the moon. A moonlit night the whole nature looks bright and appears in celestial light. Reflecting upon the balance between fire and water reminds us that man must have in his deep psychology a nature desire to long for the total balance rational and the moon as being static and intuitive. Moonviewing parties or full moon festivals, which have been practiced since the olden times are certainly meaningful.

Lunar Eclipse and Solar Eclipse

Lunar eclipses happen when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow. In a total lunar eclipse, the Moon and Earth are lined up so that the whole of the Moon is in shadow for a while. If they're not completely aligned, only a part of the Moon can end up shaded (a partial eclipse). Lunar eclipses can only happen when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon and that can only happen at full Moon. During the moon eclipse the only light that reaches the Moon has already been filtered by the Earth's atmosphere. Once light hits all that gas and dust, it gets scattered. Long wavelength reddish light tends to bounce right out into space - it's the light that reaches the Moon. Shorter wavelength blue light keeps bouncing around off molecules and doesn't really get a chance to escape. (That's why the sky usually looks blue - the red light bounces away, so blue is all that's left). The most recent lunar eclipse of 2008 occurred on February 21, 2008, was visible from the Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

Solar Eclipse

On the other hand the solar eclipses happen when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth. In a solar eclipse, the Moon and Sun are lined up so that the whole of the Earth is in shadow for a while because the sun hides behind the moon. During that time the sun light as though creates a diamond ring around the moon. Sunlight and solar eclipses are another thing altogether. Sunlight can burn our retina (the business end of our eyeball) in a fraction of a second, so we should never look directly at the Sun. And even though most of the Sun's light is blocked out during a solar eclipse (when the Moon blocks the Sun from view), the rim of Sunlight around the Moon is incredibly bright, and because of the darker sky our pupils are dilated so more Sunlight can hit our retina in a short time. So we should not look at the Sun during an eclipse - or at any other time. The most recent solar eclipse occurred on August 1, 2008, and was a total eclipse. In ancient times, and in some cultures today, lunar and solar eclipses have been attributed to supernatural causes. Total lunar and solar eclipses can be frightening for people who are unaware of their astronomical explanation, as the Moon as well as the Sun seems to disappear in the day and the sky darkens in a matter of minutes. Still now there is a superstition about the lunar and solar eclipses. Once upon a time people did not usually take meal during the time of the lunar and solar eclipses. Specially pregnant women were strictly prohibited for taking any kind of meal and doing anything. Now-a-days people realize that is nothing but misbelieve. It is a natural phenomenon ever happen and people use to enjoy.

Conclusion

The Moon has been fascinated since many years. The sunlight fallen on the moon and reflect the one fourteenth of it because most of it's absorbed by the moon. No need to reveal it that the moon is adored by the all sorts of people around world. It is real blessing for the mankind. Amazingly the ocean, the sun, the moon, plants and human beings have been closely related to each other. They perhaps continue to play their roles as internal elements of the culture assets of humanity. It has been proved that festivals of moon, which have been practiced since the olden times, are certainly meaningful. Also indicate that there is a relationship between science religion and human life without any doubt.

The writer is Inspector

Directorate of Co-operative, Agargaon Civic Sector