The other day i was on my PC and i took a break and i noticed the moon out of my window. It was a brilliant white half moon and for some reason i was transfixed and had to keep looking at it. After about 45 seconds the darkness started to work its way slowly across the moon until it completely disappeared. It was quite the unusual site, which is the first time i have ever seen it happen. Have you ever seen this happen?
2007-12-21 03:36:20 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
NOTE: Couldn't of been clouds because of the way the light faded away across the surface of the moon.
2007-12-21 03:41:18 · update #1
Did you stare at the moon then saw it fade and did it come back when you looked at it again? The eye can become blind to white light if stared at in the dark.
This is because the eye has colour receptors that are not good at white light and so go to sleep. Around the edge of the eye are white light sensor that are not good at colour. This is just how our eyes have developed through eons of evolution.
Staring at the moon especially if not particularly bright may cause it to fade away. Given that you'd been on your pc with a bright screen your eyes may have nodded off!
Did you ever do the experiment when you look at a checkered black and white card really hard then look away and see the reverse image. Or go figure what happens to the eye when a flash bulb goes off and you get purple spots (where the retina is stunned)...?
I trust you have no other issues with vision, if you find veils falling on your vision then seek medical advice as this can be indicative of retina issues.
The most likely other answer is clouds, especially thick ones that do not allow the moon to shine through and are typically found on a front. To disprove that theory check the local weather charts for the date and look for fronts.
During an ecplipse the moon would be a full circle and not half moon.
sadly I think it was either your eyes or the weather and not some weird event. try setting an experiment up on the next clear night and see if it happens again.
That's only my opinion. I hope it helps
2007-12-22 08:15:20 · answer #1 · answered by jmb944 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no doubt you saw something out there. My guess is that at what point was it traveling and did it change directions rapidly or stop at all. At this time I am thinking that it was a plane or something similar because of the aproximety of the moon and the reflection it projects from the sun. However if it was moving rapidly in different directions that would eliminate a satelitte. I once saw something that under closer review wound up being the space shuttle as it was approaching touchdown in California because of the weather. I believe that if more people reported it then you really might have seen something other than a human made object. Agencies do have a quick unreliable answer always when calling though, "DA plane Boss! DA plane" from fantasy Island!. Anyways keep watching the Heaven's at night, it is the most peaceful expierence imaginable. And you know that somehow you will always be rewarded for spending time with God, or a friend, or even with family.
2016-05-25 07:35:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clouds are the most likely explanation. They can have different levels of transparency, giving the effect that the moon was "fading". The only other possibility I can think of is volcanic ash, but I'm guessing you don't live near any active volcanos. (A lunar eclipse takes hours, not 45 seconds)
2007-12-21 04:01:56 · answer #3 · answered by Nature Boy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello Nigel;
If it wasn't cloud- or fog- related, the only time I've seen the moon fade from view was during a total lunar eclipse.
This happens very slowly, though...
Not in the space of just a few minutes!
Are you sure it wasn't just a thick cloud bank?
Clear Skies!
Bobby
2007-12-21 03:55:09 · answer #4 · answered by Bobby 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Nigel -
As an amateur astronomer in a cloud-prone location, I can verify that it is not unusual to see clouds cross the moon and slowly block its light - when you can see no details in the clouds themselves. This usually occurs when the clouds are either very high and thin or very low and misty. Wish it didn't happen! - but it does.
ADDED: Could it have been smoke?
2007-12-21 04:16:58 · answer #5 · answered by Larry454 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Were you watching an UFO movie before you looked outside?
It could have been an Unidentified Flying Object hoovering infront of the moon therefore blocking the rays of the moonlight.
You never know. Those tall green men from mars could come at any time.
2007-12-21 06:25:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I haven't heard or saw anything like what you say. It sure is an amazing phenomina.It's amazing. I have seen it happens with clouds. In these kinds of cicumstances the most prominent thing to do is to cheack the date and the time. And then the weather.I would like to see it.
2007-12-21 03:54:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not all clouds have sharp edges.
it was cloud, or haze forming as the temperature
fell.
I've seen it happen quite quickly.
2007-12-21 06:43:18 · answer #8 · answered by Irv S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clouds.
2007-12-21 04:10:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
How late was it?
Try setting up a dark field and place a light in front of it. Stare at that light. I think you will see a similar at effect after a while, at least what you describe sounds similar to what I see if I stare at a light too long.
2007-12-21 03:45:56 · answer #10 · answered by BNP 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋