I mean I am no believer in god but that is one hell of a coincidence.
2006-11-19 21:48:36 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Message to Gabrielbeware, how stupid are you, to say that the moon is 100 times smaller than the sun, I wish I had never asked this question now because it is obvious that only retards are online to answer it.
2006-11-19 22:24:16 · update #1
Oh my god what is that guy going on about Allah and all that jazz?!
God the amount of religious fanatics we have on this site is scary...
It is a beautiful coincedence!
2006-11-19 22:11:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
In the past the moon was closer to the earth and so the corona was not visible except at the apparent contact edges during the start and end of the eclipse. By chance we are living in a period where the visible size (from Earth) of the Moon and Sun correspond. However in the distant future the moon will seem smaller and most of the spectacular effects will no longer occur.
Hope that helps?
2006-11-20 13:53:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not perfect but the moon is about 400 times smaller and about 400 times closer than the Sun
The Sun is so bright that during an eclipse the two look the same size but if you measure both the size difference and the difference in distance you would find there is a significant difference. It's just the light "fills" in the difference. Its just a coincidence that they are about the right size and distance
2006-11-20 08:46:04 · answer #3 · answered by xpatgary 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Moon's orbit around the Earth is inclined at an angle of just over 5 degrees to the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun (the ecliptic). Because of this, at the time of a New Moon, the Moon will usually pass above or below the Sun. A solar eclipse can occur only when the New Moon occurs close to one of the points (known as nodes) where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic.
As noted above, the Moon's orbit is also elliptical. The Moon's distance from the Earth can vary by about 6% from its average value. Therefore, the Moon's apparent size varies with its distance from the Earth, and it is this effect that leads to the difference between total and annular eclipses. The distance of the Earth from the Sun also varies during the year, but this is a smaller effect. On average, the Moon appears to be slightly smaller than the Sun, so the majority (about 60%) of central eclipses are annular. It is only when the Moon is closer to the Earth than average (near its perigee) that a total eclipse occurs
2006-11-20 06:04:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
The sun is about four hundred times as big across as the moon is, but it is also about four hundred times as far away. This means that the two objects look almost exactly the same size. Thus when the moon passes between us and the sun, it almost precisely blocks off the light, leaving visible only the tenuous outer parts (the corona of the sun), producing one of the most spectacular phenomena in Nature. This precise match is not true for any moon orbiting any other planet in the solar system: we are in a uniquely favoured location
2006-11-20 06:30:26 · answer #5 · answered by Basement Bob 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the moon is closer and smaller than the sun. the light coming from behind or in front of seems in line because of the vast difference in distance and size. Plus, the earth is going around the sun at the same level as the sun so when the moon goes in front of the sun or behind the earth, alignment is almost perfect.
2006-11-20 05:55:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
By observations it appears that way, and it is only with respect to circumference and distance, however if it were a perfect match then we would not be capable of observing the suns corona during a total eclipse, therefor it is not perfect outline.
Also our moon is slipping away from earth at approx. one inch per solar year, and as it does it will over a great passage of time appear to our long distant descendant's as much smaller than it appears to us today.
And I am sorry you are not a believer in God, but that is your right and your thoughts are valid to you, although I do believe in God and the evidence of his existence is all around us, and with in us we call it Energy and it is our Greatest Gift.
2006-11-20 07:16:26 · answer #7 · answered by Thoughtfull 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The moon doesn't fit exactly. This is a fact because there are many a times partial eclipses also. On the other hand the distance of the moon with respect of the sun is great. Hence a football so far appears as big as a golf ball so close
2006-11-20 05:51:45 · answer #8 · answered by patro_ranjan 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
by an amazing coincidence the moon is exactly a 100 times smaller than the sun but it is exactly 100 times closer so they seem the same size in th sky! [but the moon is moving away for the earth and someday it may leave the orbit of the earth and a long time ago it was much closer and they had a solar eclipse every other month and the earth had enormous tides!]
2006-11-20 05:54:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋
It's only like that when it's a full eclipse and everything is in a direct straight line. There are many partial eclipses where the sun looks as if it has had a bit taken out of it.
2006-11-20 06:02:36 · answer #10 · answered by ribble_girl 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It is an amazing co-incidence, but I can hardly see it as evidence for god! For one thing, it is only a temporary phenomena - the moon's distance from the earth changes with time, and eventually it will not be a perfect fit. Secondly, it is not the most useful of things for a creator to set up - fascinating, pretty, and it allows astronomers to study the corona, but compared to everything else about 'creation' that is sub-optimal, it would indicate a god obsessed with trivia!
2006-11-20 05:57:22 · answer #11 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋