The moon tag has no wiki summary.
2
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1answer
103 views
Why is the shadow of earth red?
Reading this article about the forthcoming eclipse on December 10th, I noticed mention that the moon passes through the red shadow of Earth; I'd always held the impression that a shadow is universally ...
8
votes
1answer
187 views
How to explain the Moon halo phenomenon?
Today, here in Brazil, I have observed (and is still observing) an interesting phenomenon.
The Moon is near to a big star in the sky, but this is normal. The interesting part is what's around them.
...
5
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1answer
52 views
Shadow of a Jovian moon over the Great Red Spot
Where can I find pictures of the shadow of any of the Jovian moons partially covering the Great Red Spot?
A series of such pictures over time would even be better. The idea is to learn more about the ...
9
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2answers
131 views
Where does the dust on the moon come from?
From the Apollo missions we know that the moon is covered with dust. Where does it come from? Is it from the erosion of the moon rock? By what? Or by accretion of dust from space? Which comes from ...
4
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1answer
268 views
Is there a simple yet accurate formula for where on Earth the Sun and Moon are directly overhead?
I'm trying to improve a site that shows the region of the Earth currently under daylight, and I
need a formula that, given the current time, tells where
(latitude/longitude) the sun and moon are ...
1
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3answers
1k views
Why is moonlight less colourful than yellow light?
Just what the title states; and this isn't an original question ...
On full-moon, moonlight is almost as bright as mid-dawn ; yet there is hardly any colour visible. This is not the case with ...
3
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1answer
52 views
Phases of the moon video
I am an educator, and I am looking for a specific video. In the video, they ask some middle school students and some college graduates about why the moon has phases. Most of the students in both the ...
3
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3answers
91 views
On what planar regions are the Earth, Moon.. for that matter, all astronomical bodies, placed in the Universe?
When we are on Earth, we look UP in the Sky to see the Moon. How do we have to look at Earth from Moon.. Is it the way ? If so, how are these bodies actually placed in the space?
Are all astronomical ...
3
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0answers
12 views
How did the radiative flux of each gas giant planet change with respect to time (since their formation)?
We know that each gas giant planet was warmest when it was young. This warmth came from internal heating from both radioactive decay and from gravitational potential energy. This warmth, in turn, ...
13
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5answers
2k views
Why do we always see the same side of the Moon?
I am puzzled why we always see the same side of the Moon even though it is rotating around its own axis apart from revolving around the earth. Shouldn't this only be possible if the Moon is not ...
7
votes
2answers
63 views
What distinguishes a moon from orbiting space debris? Or in other words, when is a satellite “too small” to be a moon?
The Wikipedia article on Natural Satellites doesn't really give an adequate distinction as to what distinguishes a moon from other orbiting bodies. What I am looking for is a classification that ...
4
votes
1answer
72 views
Does the Earth help stabilize changes in the moon's obliquity as well?
We know that the moon helps stabilize changes in Earth's obliquity.
But what about Earth and the moon? Are some of the obliquity-stabilizing effects (of the moon on the Earth) communicated through ...
3
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1answer
94 views
How do the day/night temperature variations of moons compare to those of their planets?
Does the planet's eclipse have a significant impact on the flux of light hitting the moon? Does tidal locking have any effect on the day-night difference of the planet?
2
votes
1answer
213 views
Next crescent moon?
How do I find the date of next crescent moon on wolframalpha or any other site which tells the appearance date time of next crescent on a specific location?
I am searching for it to look for 1st of ...
8
votes
2answers
950 views
How does the central peak in moon craters form?
The central peak in many of the moon's large craters are visible with a telescope and they seem a little odd to me. Can someone explain how they form.
-6
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4answers
3k views
If there is no gravity on the moon why is the american flag waving?
If there is no gravity on the moon, how could this flag be flapping in the wind?
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2wD6eg/hea-www.harvard.edu/~fine/images/desktops/Armstrong.jpg
4
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3answers
36 views
How can one predict the length of the Synodic month? Why is it irregular?
I'd like to write a program that uses the exact (down to the second) amount of time from one new moon (or full moon) to the next.
Yet, I am told that this period is irregular.
Yet, it seems to be ...
15
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2answers
112 views
What is a “Trojan Moon”?
Today I read an article about Saturn's moon Helene, and it was described as a "Trojan Moon" but no further explanation was given. It was difficult to even get any context about the term from the ...
3
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3answers
53 views
What was the apparent magnitude of the June 15th 2011 lunar eclipse?
My plan was to observe and estimate the apparent magnitude of the Moon during totality of the June 2011 lunar eclipse, but the clouds rolled in at the exact moment, so I couldn't make any useful ...
10
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1answer
37 views
Why did the june 2011 lunar eclipse last so long?
It was kind of hard to miss the lunar eclipse this week, although I didn't see it in person (Sod's law means that on every relatively major astronomical event clouds cover where I am). From what I ...
22
votes
4answers
2k views
Why is a new moon not the same as a solar eclipse?
Forgive the elementary nature of this question:
Because a new moon occurs when the moon is positioned between the earth and sun, doesn't this also mean that somewhere on the Earth, a solar eclipse ...
8
votes
4answers
254 views
Can a moon have another large body as a satellite, and are there any examples of such?
In my mind, I'm comparing it to the Sun-Earth-Moon system. After all, the Earth is primarily a satellite of the Sun, but the Moon is still gravitationally bound to the Earth. Could something like this ...
8
votes
1answer
148 views
Could the earth have another moon?
First, to clarify: I'm not asking if perhaps there's a moon that we haven't found yet. The question is, theoretically, would the earth be able to have another stable moon in addition to the current ...
7
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2answers
33 views
Where to find Lunar Eclipse data
I am wondering whether there's a good resource to find data about upcoming Lunar Eclipses.
For example, showing the percentage of the eclipse over time. Such as: 17:23 GMT - 0%, 17:40 GMT - 10%, etc.
...
15
votes
3answers
454 views
Does the Moon's core still contain significant heat?
On earth, using earth-sheltering techniques can significantly reduce the temperature fluctuations on a structure. Would the same statement be true as well on the Moon? Does the Moon's core still ...
2
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2answers
150 views
Why can't you see meteors, but you can see comets from the moon?
Why can't you see meteors from the moon and why can you see comets?
5
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2answers
109 views
In what ways can a lunar eclipse occur?
In what ways can a lunar eclipse occur?
Also, on what percentage of the Earth are they usually viewable?
I am aware that there are multiple configurations that constitute a lunar eclipse (umbral, ...
8
votes
3answers
701 views
Why are there more lunar maria on the near side than on the far side?
It is widely known that the side of the moon that faces us has a particularly large number of dark patches, which resemble seas of liquid, hence, "maria". It is strange, though, that the far side of ...
10
votes
2answers
397 views
Observing Jupiter's non-Galilean moons
What strength of telescope is required to observe some of the non-Galilean moons of Jupiter?
My current telescope at 50 magnification resolves the Galilean moons well, but I'm guessing it's far ...
12
votes
3answers
13k views
Why does the moon sometimes appear giant and a orange red color near the horizon?
I've read various ideas about why the moon looks larger on the horizon. The most reasonable one in my opinion is that it is due to how our brain calculates (perceives) distance, with objects high ...
10
votes
1answer
537 views
When will the Moon reach escape velocity?
From what I know, the Moon is accelerating away from the Earth. Do we know when it will reach escape velocity? How do we calculate this?
7
votes
1answer
309 views
Is there any evidence for the claim that the moon was once part of the Earth?
There is a hypothesis that says a part of the Earth was split away and became the Moon.
Is there any scientific evidence for this claim?
6
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2answers
36 views
Scientific value of timing total lunar occultations
Is there still scientific value in timing and reporting total lunar occultations? Why would I time total lunar occultations (grazing occultations are out of the question)?
When I reported ...
16
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6answers
679 views
Can the apparent equal size of sun and moon be explained or is this a coincidence?
Is there a possible explanation for the apparent equal size of sun and moon or is this a coincidence?
(An explanation can involve something like tide-lock effects or the anthropic principle.)
4
votes
1answer
189 views
The Orbiting Moon as a Quantum Object
How would the quantum mechanical treatment of the moon as a gravitationally-bound object differ from the usual treatment of the hydrogen atom using Schrödinger's equation?
[The earth's gravitational ...
16
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8answers
13k views
Why doesn't the Moon fall upon Earth?
Why doesn't the Moon, or for that matter anything rotating another larger body, ever fall into the larger body?
5
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1answer
226 views
Determining Average Tidal Effects
Maximum tidal heights vary widely across the globe, from 16 m in the Bay of Fundy to mere centimeters elsewhere. These variations are due to coastline and shoreline differences. This makes it ...
4
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2answers
214 views
Illumination calculations?
I am trying to find a formula that will enable me to calculate the illumination of the moon down to one thousandth of a percent, given that the Gregorian year, month, day, and hour is known.
I am ...
