Comments on: Earth setting on the Moon? http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/ Transfer scientific authority to people Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:50:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Pioneer1 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14263 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:33:21 +0000 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14263 Richard, Thanks for the comment and the clarification. I added a footnote to the post referring to your comment. Maybe you can correct my numbers but still not convinced that the setting would look like in this photo even if you are viewing it from the "edge." As seen from the Moon the Earth subtends about 4 degrees, the libration if I remember correctly is about 5.5 degrees. So the Earth would barely move its own disk. The picture shows the earth moving at least 3 disks. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libration" rel="nofollow">Libration animation</a> is awesome but at present the page is blanked for some reason. <blockquote>Yes, you’re right, though, about the JAXA Kaguya images, they aren’t really of an Earthset event, it’s an occultation. No biggie, nothing to loose sleep over. It’s a minor linguistic point.</blockquote> Yes, minor linguistic problem, nothing to lose sleep over. By the way, I loved the <a href="http://www.cvilleastro.org/transit/?PHPSESSID=a09f1fd765eb40738f44d8547acb4027" rel="nofollow">Venus occultation</a> photos that you have on your website :) Richard,

Thanks for the comment and the clarification. I added a footnote to the post referring to your comment.

Maybe you can correct my numbers but still not convinced that the setting would look like in this photo even if you are viewing it from the “edge.”

As seen from the Moon the Earth subtends about 4 degrees, the libration if I remember correctly is about 5.5 degrees. So the Earth would barely move its own disk. The picture shows the earth moving at least 3 disks.

Libration animation is awesome but at present the page is blanked for some reason.

Yes, you’re right, though, about the JAXA Kaguya images, they aren’t really of an Earthset event, it’s an occultation. No biggie, nothing to loose sleep over. It’s a minor linguistic point.

Yes, minor linguistic problem, nothing to lose sleep over. By the way, I loved the Venus occultation photos that you have on your website :)

]]> by: Pioneer1 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14259 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:56:40 +0000 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14259 Thanks, Louise. Thanks, Louise.

]]> by: L Riofrio http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14216 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:57:52 +0000 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14216 You are right again, Pioneer. Nice posts too. You are right again, Pioneer. Nice posts too.

]]> by: Richard B. Drumm http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14215 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:32:25 +0000 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14215 Have a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libration and you'll see that it -IS- possible for someone on the surface of the Moon to see the Earth set. You'd have to be on the edge, though, to see the event. You can also see the variation in size as well as orientation that the Moon goes through in a single month. All the non-astronomical public I've shown this animation to have been amazed by it. Yes, you're right, though, about the JAXA Kaguya images, they aren't really of an Earthset event, it's an occultation. No biggie, nothing to loose sleep over. It's a minor linguistic point. The images -DO- show how dark the Moon is compared to the Earth. It seems so white & bright when we see it at night, though, huh? But put the Earth & Moon in the same image and you see the difference. Richard B. Drumm President Charlottesville Astronomical Society Have a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libration
and you’ll see that it -IS- possible for someone on the surface of the Moon to see the Earth set. You’d have to be on the edge, though, to see the event. You can also see the variation in size as well as orientation that the Moon goes through in a single month. All the non-astronomical public I’ve shown this animation to have been amazed by it.

Yes, you’re right, though, about the JAXA Kaguya images, they aren’t really of an Earthset event, it’s an occultation. No biggie, nothing to loose sleep over. It’s a minor linguistic point.

The images -DO- show how dark the Moon is compared to the Earth. It seems so white & bright when we see it at night, though, huh? But put the Earth & Moon in the same image and you see the difference.
Richard B. Drumm
President
Charlottesville Astronomical Society

]]> by: Alireza http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14198 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:48:26 +0000 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14198 I agree with you Pioneer1. I agree with you Pioneer1.

]]> by: Pioneer1 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14155 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:43:29 +0000 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14155 Carl, I think "set" has one meaning. It is the motion of the Moon, or Sun, or any other celestial body, due to the motion of the Earth. In the case of the Moon, the Earth does not set on the Moon. In this picture it is suggested that the Earth sets on the Moon the way the Moon sets on the Earth. If you know anyone who is not that familiar with astronomy may be you can ask them to look at this picture. I bet that they will say the earth sets on the Moon not because the spacecraft moves but because the Earth sets on the Moon the way the Moon sets on the Earth. Carl,

I think “set” has one meaning. It is the motion of the Moon, or Sun, or any other celestial body, due to the motion of the Earth. In the case of the Moon, the Earth does not set on the Moon. In this picture it is suggested that the Earth sets on the Moon the way the Moon sets on the Earth. If you know anyone who is not that familiar with astronomy may be you can ask them to look at this picture. I bet that they will say the earth sets on the Moon not because the spacecraft moves but because the Earth sets on the Moon the way the Moon sets on the Earth.

]]> by: Pioneer1 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14153 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:26:36 +0000 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14153 Alireza, Do you agree that the Earth does not set or rise on the Moon? If so, this photo is misleading. It gives the impression that Earth sets on the Moon for a stationary observer. Alireza,

Do you agree that the Earth does not set or rise on the Moon? If so, this photo is misleading. It gives the impression that Earth sets on the Moon for a stationary observer.

]]> by: Carl Brannen http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14143 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:29:42 +0000 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14143 It's all a matter of the definitions of the words. Clearly the spacecraft is moving. It’s all a matter of the definitions of the words. Clearly the spacecraft is moving.

]]> by: Alireza http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14118 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:41:58 +0000 http://globalpioneering.com/wp02/earth-setting-on-the-moon/#comment-14118 Either in the pictures or in video, one can see that the position of the spacecraft is changing. But I don't know if this difference in position is enough for say the "Earth set" is due to what you said. Either in the pictures or in video, one can see that the position of the spacecraft is changing. But I don’t know if this difference in position is enough for say the “Earth set” is due to what you said.

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