What is a full moon? What happens when there is one? How does it all occur?
2007-10-28 08:08:19 · 7 answers · asked by Morie Jay 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun, and when the three celestial bodies are aligned as close as possible to a straight line. At this time, as seen by viewers on earth, the hemisphere of the moon that is facing the earth (the near side) is fully illuminated by the sun and appears round.
2007-10-28 09:06:39 · answer #1 · answered by bravokardia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Full moon is a lunar phase that occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun, and when the three celestial bodies are aligned as close as possible to a straight line. At this time, as seen by viewers on earth, the hemisphere of the moon that is facing the earth (the near side) is fully illuminated by the sun and appears round. Only during a full moon is the opposite hemisphere of the moon, which is not visible from earth (the far side), completely unilluminated.
As a lunar month is about 29.531 days long, the full moon falls on either the 14th or 15th of the lunar month in those calendars which start the month on the new moon. In any event, the period between full moons can be either 29 or 30 days.
2007-10-28 08:11:39 · answer #2 · answered by zidane d 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The one and only time the Moon is truly full (from the vantage point of Earth) is when the Moon is on a direct line with the Sun and the Earth, with the Earth in the middle.
As a consequence of that alignment, the ONLY time the moon is truly full is during a total eclipse of the Moon, and only then when it is exactly in the center of the Umbra part of the shadow of the Earth.
I realize this is somewhat picky, but it is true nevertheless.
At all other times when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon, the Moon exhibits a slight gibbous phase. Also, because of parallax, the amount of "gibbousness" varies depending on where you are on the surface of the earth (the variation is extremely slight, however).
2007-10-28 08:45:01 · answer #3 · answered by David A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A "Full Moon" is a moon that is completely bathed in sunlight. The shape of the moon changes as the earth casts a shadow over the surface of the moon.
The portion in shadow becomes hard to see, but the remainder is reflecting sunlight back to you.
The full moon is simply not shadowed by the earth.
The Shadow from the earth changes a little each day from a "Full Moon" on down to a "New Moon" completely shadowed. The full process takes about thirty days.
Warm regards,
Douglas
2007-10-28 08:20:31 · answer #4 · answered by prancinglion 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when the sun earth and moon line up so that the moon is behind the earth and looks full
2007-10-28 09:43:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's when the Earth doesn't cast a shadow on it. We get half moons, three quarter moons. It's all shadows. And at night the sun makes it illuminate.
2007-10-28 08:15:02 · answer #6 · answered by zzap2001 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The moon is fully lit, from our perspective;
when on the opposite side of earth from the sun.
2007-10-28 08:13:02 · answer #7 · answered by Robert S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋