Observation of the moon

[jimtom]

I caught the back end of a news item on R4 Today prog yesterday [25th]. They were asking the public to observe the new moon and report back what they saw. I've been to the beeb website and to The Moonwatch site but can't find out why they want Joe Public to watch it for them. Any ideas???

[roy.mckiie]

I think it's a way in getting eye's looking from all over the country, rather than just where they are stationed.

[heathfield]

Obviously part of the BBC's data collection system for their totally abysmal weather forecast website. If you can see the moon - it's clear, if you can;t - it's cloudy. This sample data will be entered into a computer that will tell them how badly they got it wrong - again!!!

[matt_london]

<PRE>Great proper use of the word "lunatics"</PRE>

[jimtom]

Thanks for the answers. It's true about lunatics and the moon, like it is about werewolves.
I used to be a werewolf, but I'm alright NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW
Jim