The Moon, as seen from Earth, is the brightest, most easily identifiable object in the night sky. … [+]
kasabubu of pixabay / public domain
The brightest object in the night sky, our Moon is an unmistakable sight.
The Moon, in a crescent phase, can be seen setting with the Statue of Liberty in the foreground. The … [+]
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Beyond its skyward motion and changing phases, naked-eye lunar observations yield tremendous scientific knowledge.
As seen from the northern hemisphere versus the southern hemisphere throughout its various phases, … [+]
Open University / Creative Commons
1.) The Earth is round.
Depending on an observer’s latitude and perspective, they will see the Moon oriented differently, as … [+]
Kelvin Case / public domain
Arctic versus Antarctic perspectives are completely flipped, with latitudinal variations indicating Earth’s shape.
By looking at the curvature of the Earth’s shadow that falls on the Moon, we can reconstruct the … [+]
Fred Espenak / MrEclipse.com
Additionally, the Earth’s shadow during lunar eclipses reveals our planet’s spheroidal nature.
Compared to an apogee (most distant) Moon, a perigee (closest) full Moon can be approximately 14% … [+]
Tomruen / Wikimedia Commons
2.) The Moon’s orbit is elliptical, not circular.
Before we understood how the law of gravity worked, we were able to establish than any object in … [+]
RJHALL / PAINT SHOP PRO
Changes in the Moon’s apparent size indicate large variations in its distance from Earth.
The cycle from new Moon to full Moon to new Moon again coincides with increases and decreases in … [+]
Wikimedia Commons user Tomruen.
Additionally, more than 50% of its face is visible over time, as it orbits Earth quicker when closer and slower when farther.
As seen from Earth, a less-than-full Moon will have a portion of its face illuminated by reflected … [+]
VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
3.) How reflective is the Earth?
The brightness of the portion of the Moon not directly lit by the Sun, but instead illuminated by … [+]
Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
The unlit part of the Moon is brightened by Earthshine: sunlight reflected from Earth.
This amateur photograph shows a crescent Moon in detail: where a portion of the Moon is illuminated … [+]
Rob Pettengill / flickr
Observing the light from the unilluminated portion teaches us the reflectivity of Earth.
The Moon as seen from a view above the majority of Earth’s atmosphere. Earthshine illuminates the … [+]
NASA
4.) Earth’s atmosphere bends red light more than blue.
When observed very close to the horizon, light from the Moon must pass through the maximum amount of … [+]
Corbis via Getty Images
During moonset/moonrise, the Moon appears redder, as blue light is scattered away.
As the Moon appears farther away from the horizon, its light passes through less of Earth’s … [+]
Steven Schimmrich / Hudson Valley Geologist
That red light is bent, meanwhile, preferentially illuminating the Moon during lunar eclipses.
During most total lunar eclipses, a partial eclipse is followed by a dark red taking over the Moon … [+]
KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images
5.) The Moon has mountains, valleys, and high crater walls.
As the Moon blocks out nearly all of the Sun, the deepest craters continue to let sunlight through, … [+]
Phil Hart / http://philhart.com/content/solar-eclipse-queensland-14th-november-2012
During solar eclipses, Baily’s beads reveal the lunar topography.
When the Moon’s shadow falls on the Earth, as it did during this 1999 total solar eclipse, its … [+]
Mir / Roscosmos
The lunar shadow’s irregular shape on Earth, during total eclipses, reveals the heights of crater walls.
Mostly Mute Monday tells an astronomical story in images, visuals, and no more than 200 words. Talk less; smile more.
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