Why does the three-quarter moon look convex? If the shadow of the earth is the shaded part of the moon, shouldn't it be concave, the same as the one-quarter moon looks? Thanks!
2007-08-02 14:29:07 · 7 answers · asked by blooming chamomile 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The shadow of the Earth is NOT the cause of the phases of the Moon. The shadow of the Earth is the cause of lunar eclipses. The phases are due to the fact the the ball shaped Moon is only bright on one side, because light from the Sun comes only from one direction, but we see different portions of the Moon from Earth, sometimes more and sometimes less of the part that is lit up by the Sun.
2007-08-02 14:37:18 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The moon phases are NOT caused by the shadow of the Earth on the moon (boys, it's starting again - a lack of simple education in our schools...time to put on our "patience" hats for all these poor kids).
As the moon moves around the Earth, the angle from the sun to the moon to our eyes changes. What we see when we see any part of the moon is whatever amount of the side of the moon that faces us is lit by sunlight.
Get a baseball and a lamp (turn on the lamp).
Hold the baseball out in front of you, between you and the lamp. The part facing you is not lit by the lamp (we call that phase of the moon a "new moon").
Now turn to your right a quarter of the way.
Half of the part of the baseball facing you is lit by the lamp, the other half is not ("first quarter" moon).
Now turn so your back is to the lamp. Keep the baseball out of your shadow, and the part facing you is completely lit by the lamp (that's "full moon").
One more quarter turn (the lamp is now on your right) and again only half of the side of the baseball facing you is lit ("last quarter" moon).
The moon doesn't orbit in the same plane as the sun moves, so it doesn't get into the shadow of the Earth except when the angles are just right - then it's called a lunar eclipse.
But those only happen about twice a year. The rest of the time the moon is "above" or "below" the shadow the Earth makes.
2007-08-02 23:54:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Moon's phases are NOT caused by the shadow of the Earth. The shadow of the Earth can only fall on the Moon at Full Moon, when the three objects are in a straight line. The Moon's phases are caused by the Moon being a three-dimensional sphere lit partially by the Sun from different angles.
The Third Quarter Moon is visible in the daylight sky in the morning at present. Go outside on a sunny day with a tennis ball, and hold it up in the Sun. You will see exactly the same shadow on the tennis ball as you see on the Moon.
2007-08-02 22:35:33 · answer #3 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the earth's shadow is so big, it can look like a straight line. and you have to remember, the moon's surface is curved too, so if you project a shadow onto it, it's already going to look concave.
2007-08-02 22:02:52 · answer #4 · answered by Ewaj 3 · 1⤊ 5⤋
Hello is Mrs haddock there ???
No Sorry
Oh thats a bit fishy then
2007-08-02 21:33:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
~Well, what can you expect when the penumbra steps all over the umbra? Celestial bodies get cranky during their monthly cycles too.
2007-08-02 21:42:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
sorry,, idk.. but u sure have some good answers if they are true...
i am curious how old u r.. for such a good question... ? I was thinking on the same lines as u... not.....
2007-08-02 22:44:39 · answer #7 · answered by ♥ Blondie ♥ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋