This morning both the moon and the sun were high in the sky at about 30 degrees apart, The moon was a half moon so how can the earth be blocking the sun if they are both visible and the earth is obviously not between them
2007-07-06 21:20:33 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It wasn't the earth blocking the moon. The part of the moon that was visible was the part the sun shines on.
Lunar eclipses are unusual enough that astronomers tell us when we are having them, and the half moon isn't caused by an eclipse.
2007-07-06 21:30:38 · answer #1 · answered by Warren D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your understanding of celestial mechanics is limited. The side of the moon facing Earth appeared to be only half illuminated because the other half of the half which the sun illuminates (the sun lights one half at a time of each of the bodies in the solar system, the half facing the sun) was on the far side of the moon from us. The moon's phases are NOT due to its being shadowed by the Earth. As you know, only one face of the moon is visible from Earth. That face is at some times fully lit by the sun, and at other times only partially lit, or not at all. It has nothing to do with Earth's shadow; Earth's shadow sometimes causes lunar eclipses, an entirely different phenomenon from the moon's phases.
2007-07-07 02:09:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the earth does not block the sun to give you phases, you see only part of the lighted side from where you are. The only time the earths shadow affects the moon is when there is a lunar eclipse. hope this helps.
2007-07-06 21:25:08 · answer #3 · answered by destructo_mystique_shadow 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
basically its like this... the moon you saw - the light half of it, was facing the sun - the black un-see-able half was not, because the own moon itself was blocking the light...
the earth only blocks the moon during a lunar eclipse in which case you couldn't see the moon, or when not in direct shadow, the moon will look very dark and be orange-reddish in colour.
2007-07-08 10:19:44 · answer #4 · answered by CrazyD 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Sun was shining on the moon, from left to right, therefore only the left half of the moon was Illuminated.
2007-07-08 12:49:03 · answer #5 · answered by Spanner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the erath was not blocking the sun as you suggest ...it was just that half the moon was facing away from the sun and therefore could not be seen.
2007-07-06 21:24:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree with silly gorbie.It's like he said.
2007-07-06 22:19:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that is awesome but nothing unusual. i am sure it has happened before and no one has noticed.
2007-07-06 21:32:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It must be witchcraft...lets burn all the witches!!!
2007-07-06 21:24:06 · answer #9 · answered by Julius C 2 · 1⤊ 4⤋