Up until what night aboard was the moon visible

[Mike Poirier]

Just a quick question... What nights aboard the Titanic was the moon visible?

 

[Dave Gittins]

Every night. Without getting out an astronomical program, I'd say the moon rose somewhere round midnight early in the voyage. By 15 April, it was rising just before dawn. The first nights would have been quite bright, with a good half moon.

Moonrise was always so late that it didn't interfere with celestial navigation.

 

[Jeremy Aufderheide]

Too bad the moon didn't rise earlier on April 15. Witness testimony may have been different.

[Moderator's Note: This thread, originally posted in another topic has been moved to the one, which is discussing the same subject. JDT]

 

[Mike Poirier]

Hi Dave-

Thanks for that.

Mike

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>Too bad the moon didn't rise earlier on April 15. Witness testimony may have been different.<<

Actually, the 14th would have made or broken the deal. By the stroke of midnight, the damage was already done. If a supernova had flared bright in the sky, the ship would still be sinking.

 

[Dave Gittins]

A decent moon that was high in the sky before midnight would have saved the ship. I've never seen a berg, as they are rather scarce in my home waters, but I have seen a major reef from several miles off in bright moonlight.

The Titanic story is famous for the number of 'ifs'.