The phases of the Moon affect the investigations of CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC). As reported by the research center itself, significant variations have been discovered in the collision values offered by the two major projects of this facility, Atlas and CMS, which are due to the gravitational power of the satellite, the same one that also produces the tides . For example, the gravitational effect of the full Moon "changes the orbits of the protons, and also does so in different ways throughout the passage of the particles," according to the scientific report prepared by CERN.
To reach this conclusion they measured the instantaneous luminosity during the full Moon on June 3, determining that, as the LHC is so large, the gravitational force exerted by the Moon is not the same at all points and creates small distortions in the tunnel along the entire diameter. One of the authors of the study, Pauline Gagnon, explained that "the gravitational attraction of the Moon causes these situations in the oceans and at ground level, but they are small variations that are not noticeable on a planet". However, "LHC operators perceive it because the throttle is both very large and very precise," he added.
For these reasons, CERN scientists are obliged to make periodic corrections in their projects in the orbits of the proton beam traveling in the accelerator. In this way they can carry out experiments and measurements without reflecting the effects of interference from the Moon.
