The aim of this study was to explore the effect of the lunar cycle and time of day on short-term maximal performance, wellness and mood state. Twenty healthy active men performed a running anaerobic sprint test (RAST) at four sessions (full moon (FM) and new moon (NM) in the morning and in the evening). Before each testing session, participants completed a rating scale of mood states (POMS) and a psychometric rating scale of perceived wellness (Hooper's questionnaire). Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was collected just after the RAST. A higher rating of sleep was observed in FM compared to NM upon the morning and the evening (FM morning vs. NM morning, p < .01; d = 1.38) and (FM evening vs. NM evening, p < .001; d = 2.62). POMS subscales data revealed no significant lunar cycle effect. Peak power (PP), average power (AP) and minimal power (MP) were greater in the evening following NM compared to FM (NM evening vs. FM evening, p< .01, <0.01, <0.05; d = 0.77, = 0.78, = 0.68, respectively). Likewise, RAST performance was greater in the evening compared to the morning for both lunar cycle phases (FM evening vs. FM morning, p< .001, <0.01, <0.01; d = 1.08, = 1, = 0.85) and (NM evening vs. NM morning, p< .001, <0.01, <0.01; d= 1.08, = 1, = 0.85), respectively, for PP, AP, and MP. RPE was higher in the FM evening compared to the NM evening and in the FM morning compared to the NM morning (p < .001, <0.001; d = 1.38, = 2.18, respectively). These results suggest that the lunar cycle and time of day might affect short-term maximal performance with better performance on NM evening associated with a greater perception of sleep quality compared to FM. Abbreviations: AP: Average power; FM: full moon; MP: Minimal power; NM: new moon; RAST: Running anaerobic sprint test; RPE: Rating of perceived exertion; POMS: Rating scale of mood states; PP: Peak power.
Keywords: Circadian rhythm; mood; moon; short-term performance; sleep.