Page 1 of 1

Moon and planets

Posted: Sat 29 Oct 2011 7:42 am
by MickinMoulden
I had attempted to answer a question on what the moon phase should be and if it should actually change dependant on where you are in the world. So I've made this new post. I've seen these questions pop up a few times, and I'm no expert, but it does make a difference. Cumulus shows the moon in different phases. As Steve is from on top of the world, the pics are from his perspective in the world. But at the bottom of Australia it is different. What ever reflection you see off the moon in the Northern Hemisphere, at the same distance from the equator in the Southern Hemisphere you will see a mirror reflection. If you could move between the far Northern to far Southern hemisphere you will see the reflection shift. Where I am, 13 degree's south, at this specific time, the sun sets directly under the moon. Thus the reflection I get is not from the sides, but from underneath, so I get a big smiley face :D

So to make things simple, without having or the possibilities of the angle of the reflection, Steve has simply put the phase of the moon showing reflection from one side for the Northern Hemisphere and simply made it mirror it for the Southern Hemiphere. It does not show any difference for what particular degree south or north you are. It would be far two many pictures of the moon to do that.

So to give you an example of today, here is a computer generated shot of the moon after sunset at Greenwich, 51 deg North:
Moon Phase 51deg north at sunset 29102011.JPG
Here is the same shot but for 51 deg south at sunset:
Moon Phase 51deg south at sunset 30102011.JPG
And here is a shot from Palmerston, at the top of Australia, 13 deg South:
Moon Phase 13deg south at sunset 30102011.JPG

Re: Moon and planets

Posted: Sat 29 Oct 2011 8:47 am
by MickinMoulden
Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Sun, Mercury, Moon and Earth align 11 February 2021, right in our Cyclone season. It's gonna be a stormy day arrrrrrrrrrgh :o

Re: Moon and planets

Posted: Sat 29 Oct 2011 8:52 am
by MickinMoulden
Oh, and if you want to see the solar system to scale both with planet size AND planet DISTANCE (you won't see that on a poster :lol: ), visit my Google maps page here: http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?msid= ... 7,0.076818
Just imagine Earth is 12.8mm in diameter at 1,000,000,000:1 (1 billion to 1) when you view this map, then you'll have a greater understanding of the size of the solar system.
I did it for my son. It is based around his previous school just a kay from my house.
Hope you enjoy it.

Re: Moon and planets

Posted: Sat 29 Oct 2011 2:30 pm
by b.e.wilson
MickinMoulden wrote:Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Sun, Mercury, Moon and Earth align 11 February 2021, right in our Cyclone season. It's gonna be a stormy day arrrrrrrrrrgh :o
So the Mayans were right, they just had a typo. It isn't 2012, it's 2021.