It's the part that isn't illuminated. Don't say "Dark side of the moon" or anything stupid. Does it have a real name?
2007-12-26 15:48:11 · 3 answers · asked by My Name Doesn't Fit Here 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
"Dark side of the moon" isn't stupid, it's a perfectly valid description of that area. The nighttime side of the moon is it's dark side, and that dark area is the nighttime side of the moon. When it's a crescent, part of the dark side is lit fairly well by Earthshine, similar to how a full moon lights up the night on Earth.
2007-12-27 16:00:07 · answer #1 · answered by Arkalius 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The dark part of the moon technically has no name, but it is lit by Earthshine, which is light absorbed by the atoms high in Earth's atmosphere and reflected back onto the moon. (Oceans and land don't reflect as well as light that is scattered by an atmosphere like ours)
2007-12-26 16:12:12 · answer #2 · answered by North_Star 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Yes. The Earth light portion. Primarily lit by reflected ocean light.
2007-12-26 15:58:25 · answer #3 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋