My boyfriend and I were riding down the road last night to see some friends and I noticed that the moon was very large and a very deep orange color. I commented on how pretty it looked and he said it was a lunar eclipse. I laughed and explained how certain gases in the atmosphere make it appear that color when it's that low on the horizon and appears that large (I love astronomy). He stood by his argument saying it was a lunar eclipse. I told him eclipses only happen twice a year and it's not quite time yet for another one.
Can you help clear this up for me?
2007-07-31 02:32:35 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Ok, my boyfriend is actually very smart, just not when it comes to astronomy (obviously). I'd appreciate y'all keeping the cute little comments about him not being the brightest crayon in the box to yourselves.
2007-07-31 02:45:10 · update #1
In response to one person's additional details to their answer, this question is pertaining to lunar eclipses. Not my boyfriend's IQ. We ALL have made similar "silly" remarks and have had simliar "silly" arguments with our friends. We're not all experts in every subject so saying he wasn't very bright in making such a remark is actually quite childish in my opinion.
2007-07-31 04:45:11 · update #2
You were correct... The last lunar eclipse was on 3/4 March 2007, and the next one won't be until 28 August 2007.
When the moon is low on the horizon, it can take on an orangey glow due to refraction and particles in the Earth's atmosphere.
Just go out around the same time the next full moon and show it to him again... there definitely aren't that many lunar eclipses per month!
2007-07-31 02:41:14 · answer #1 · answered by dbucciar 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Lunar eclipses happen about twice a year, because the lunar orbit is inclined ~5° to the plane of earth's orbit around the sun. And an eclipse of the moon can ONLY happen when the moon passes through the earth's shadow -- see the wikipedia site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_eclipse
But the phenomenon you are describing happens pretty much on every clear night, so it can't be a lunar eclipse. Therefore, you are correct -- the reddening of the Moon when low on the horizon is due to refraction and dust in the atmosphere.
The apparent large size of the moon is actually an optical illusion. If you go to this URL, you can see photographic proof that the moon is actually the same size:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031011.html
2007-07-31 09:46:45 · answer #2 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
July 30 at 00:48 is when the Moon was full. If there were going to be an eclipse it would be around that time. The Moon can look deep reddish in a total eclipse, but it is much dimmer than when the full moon is illuminated, and looking orange because it is low to the horizon. Also, an eclipse doesn't last all that long--he should have been more observant. Anyone can make a wrong statement; but his standing by it showed him to be both insecure and unintelligent. It doesn't reflect well on you to lie down for someone so stupid.
2007-07-31 20:03:28 · answer #3 · answered by Mark 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the moon does get red during an eclipse but it also gets much dimmer and you can see that the earth's shadow is moving in front of it, last night the moon was just orange due to the atmosphere. anyone who has seen a lunar eclipse would not mistake an orange moon for an eclipse.
2007-07-31 12:22:47 · answer #4 · answered by Tim C 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The source is the NASA eclipse page. It predicts all eclipses. There will be a total lunar eclipse August 28, 2007 visible primarily in Europe and Africa, but there was none last night.
2007-07-31 09:42:53 · answer #5 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, there was no lunar eclipse last night. Full moon occurred the night before. Lunar eclipses can only occur right at the moment of full moon.
But there will be a total lunar eclipse Aug 28, 2007, the first one in almost 3 years.
2007-07-31 09:38:42 · answer #6 · answered by Gary H 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It was not an eclipse, an eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the sun and the moon and blocks the light making the moon disappear. If you can see the moon in full then it is not an eclipse, drop the argument and find a new boyfriend.
2007-07-31 09:42:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You are correct. An eclipse can cause that appearance, but it's not necessary that an orange moon is ALWAYS an eclipse.
2007-07-31 10:49:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not an eclipse. Boyfriend silly.
If you didn't want to hear remarks about your boyfriend then you shouldn't have told us what a silly remark he made. If you don't want to hear the answers then don't ask. Now I think you're a bit strange as well.
2007-07-31 09:41:40 · answer #9 · answered by chameleon 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Your boyfriend needs to go back to the fourth grade.
You are almost right; it is dust, and to some extent water vapor, rather than gasses.
Your boyfriend is not one of the bright ones.
2007-07-31 09:37:10 · answer #10 · answered by aviophage 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋