It seems weird that the moon is just the right size to block out the sun.. does the gravitational pull of the sun on the moon make it just the right distance so that it can block the sun exactly? i dunno if u get my question lol.
2007-09-02 12:46:15 · 7 answers · asked by Millionster 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Interesting that you should ask this question. I was watching a show on the history channel today. The narrator was saying that it was a happy coincidence that the moon appeared as the same size of the sun, since it was closer and smaller. He also stated that since the earth rotated on it's axis, we don't see the eclipses as much as we would if the earth rotated straight.
Later I was watching a show on the history channel about Uranus I think, the huge planet. Anyway, they were saying how it's great that the big planet pulls in debris such as meteors and throws them back, and helps keep the earth from being hit from so much of it. Another happy coincidence I guess. We sure have it good here on planet earth!
2007-09-02 12:52:58 · answer #1 · answered by merlin_steele 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The sun's gravity does have a small effect on the moon, but not enough to effect eclipses.
Its just pure chance that right now in Earth's history the moon appears just large enough (sometimes) to completely cover the sun's disk.
The moon's orbit is elliptical (not a circle), so sometimes the moon is closer and sometimes farther from Earth.
And the Earth's orbit is also elliptical, meaning sometimes its closer and sometimes farther from the sun.
A total solar eclipse only happens when the moon is a little closer to us than average (and therefore appears larger) and the Earth is a little farther from the sun than average (and therefore the sun appears smaller). That's when the moon covers the sun completely. At other times, we have an "annular" eclipse, when the moon is a little smaller in appearance than the sun and we get the moon covering most of the sun's disk but a tiny ring of sun shows all around the moon.
A billion years ago the moon was closer to the Earth than today, and eclipses wouldn't show the bright solar corona the way they do today.
And a billion years from now the moon will be farther away and we will not have eclipses anymore.
2007-09-02 19:55:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Actually, when the moon is at the far point of its orbit, it is not big enough to block out the entire Sun and you get what is called an annular eclipse. The middle part of the sun is blocked, but a bright ring around the moon is not. It looks like a very skinny donut.
Other times, when the moon is closer, the whole sun is blocked.
It is just coincidence that the apparent size of the moon and sun are so close to each other.
2007-09-02 22:36:49 · answer #3 · answered by I don't think so 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok
The sun pulls on all planets and moons in this solar system. But the earth and moons pull are greater since they are so close together. However the moon is 1/3 the size of the earth making it the largest moon to earth ratio than eany other planet. Since this size and its closeness to the earth the moon seems bigger than the sun. For an example look at the moon then put your hand infront it. Your hand seems bigger than the moon but it isn't, it is just closer to you!
One more thing the moon is moving father away from the earth... this is bad for it help control the earth enviroment and even its rotation.
Do the research I am not lying, soner or later in 100000 yr. the earth will be with out a moon.
2007-09-02 19:59:48 · answer #4 · answered by D J 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. The moon has been receding from the Earth at about 5 feet every hundred years. It just happens that, at this time, the two discs are about the same size in the sky.
They have been so for a long time, and will stay that way for a long time. Recession of five feet at that distance and with a body that size is negligible. Even 1000 kilometres difference would hardly be noticeable in the sky, and it takes 60 million years to recede that far.
2007-09-02 20:00:09 · answer #5 · answered by Choose a bloody best answer. It's not hard. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sun' gravitational pull and the mechanism of formation of planets and satellites from the stellar dust played a role in the formation of all planets and satellites to the planets including earth and moon.
There are many strange and wonderful things in this universe and I am not sure that weird is the word.
2007-09-02 19:51:18 · answer #6 · answered by Swamy 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, It is just coincidence.
2007-09-02 19:52:52 · answer #7 · answered by teddie1056 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋