DEAR SUN SPOTS: I hope you can answer a question that has puzzled me for some time. It is about the time of the moonset as shown on the weather page.

In the enclosed clipping it says the moon rises at 4:42 p.m. on Sept. 5. Fine, but what about the moonset? Was that the morning of Sept. 5? If so, why isn’t it listed first?

Or is it the time the 4:42 rising moon sets, which would be the morning of Sept. 6? It doesn’t seem logical in the Sept. 5 paper. A puzzlement that happens every month.

Thank you for any light you can shed on this topic! — Helene, South Paris

ANSWER: The times for the moon in the Sun Journal are always for the next moon, with the time for that one moon’s rising and setting appearing in that order. So, yes, the moon that rises at 4:42 p.m. that evening sets at 1:53 a.m., nearly nine hours later, the next day.

It would probably confuse readers more if the Sun Journal published the setting of the previous moon, then the rising of the next.

Sun Spots has always expected a question about the daytime moons. Even if we can’t see it, the moon always rises and sets. So when it’s a new moon, you might see it rising at, say, 8 a.m. and sets at 5 p.m.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I realize that the “Mark Trail” cartoon is no longer being drawn by Jack Elrod, but since James Allen took over the format has been totally ridiculous.

I have unsuccessfully tried to find a reliable contact to express my disappointment, but the emails I have sent don’t go through. Does Sun Spots have a better resource? — Disgusted via email

ANSWER: Somehow Sun Spots doesn’t think Allen will take kindly to your criticism (and will probably ignore it). You might be better off complaining to King Features Syndicate, which distributes “Mark Trail” and many other comics.

However, even that is unlikely to have an effect, unless you can get hundreds of people to join you. Perhaps an online petition?

Mark Trail’s popularity has declined precipitously, with many newspapers discontinuing it. The Sun Journal tried to cancel it a half-dozen years ago, but brought it back when readers objected — strenuously!

King Features has an online email form at kingfeatures.com/contact-us/ or you can write the comics editor, Brendan Burford, King Features Syndicate, A Unit of Hearst Corp., 300 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019-5238, or call 212-969-7550.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am very confused about the Encore calendar of Sept 12. The dates don’t match the days. Can you help? Thanks. — No Name via email

ANSWER: The calendar you saw was for the wrong day. All of the previous calendars are still in the computer system, and the page designer grabbed the wrong column. The correct column appeared the next day.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I know a couple of years ago someone asked who the gentleman was at the Red Sox games wearing the earphones and you had the answer. I forgot now what you said. Can you email me back with the answer? Thanks. — Donna, [email protected]

ANSWER: Sun Spots does not answer questions privately — only in the column. However, she is glad to repeat information.

Back in 2012, Sun Spots’ editor directed her to a blog by the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, who wrote in answer to a similar question:

“That’s Jeremy Kapstein, the pioneer sports agent. He’s the former president/CEO of the San Diego Padres and has served as Larry Lucchino’s senior adviser for more than 10 years with the Red Sox and with the Padres before that.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I got a really unexpected and wonderful surprise on Sept. 2. I was in Walgreen’s in Norway, and as I cashed out, the cashier said he had something for me. 

He handed me a gift certificate to Walgreen’s from a man who had been in there and told them to give it to the “lady in the white shirt.”

I hope this generous, kind man reads your column every day, as I do, and knows how happy and speechless he made me. God bless him! — R.W., South Paris

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to [email protected].