2025 October 4

The Rotating Moon
* Video Credit: NASA, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Arizona State U.
https://www.nasa.gov/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/lro/
https://www.lroc.asu.edu/about/team

Explanation:
No one on Earth sees the Moon rotate like this. That's because the Moon is tidally locked in synchronous rotation, showing only one side to denizens of our fair planet. Still, given modern digital technology, combined with many detailed images returned by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a high resolution virtual Moon rotation movie can be composed. In fact, the featured time-lapse video starts with a view of the familiar lunar nearside and quickly finds the Mare Orientale, a large crater with a dark center that is difficult to see from the Earth, rotating into view just below the equator. In a complete lunar rotation condensed into 24 seconds, the video clearly shows that the Earth-facing nearside of the Moon contains an abundance of dark lunar maria, while the lunar farside is dominated by bright lunar highlands. Of course you can just join other moon-watchers under hopefully clear skies tonight. Check out the sunlit portion of the lunar nearside on International Observe the Moon Night.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_plains_on_the_Moon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_the_Moon#Highlands

https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/
https://lroc.im-ldi.com/about

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/fap/ap251004.html

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #education

The Moon’s Rotation

An enduring myth about the Moon is that it doesn't rotate. While it's true that the Moon keeps the same face to us, this only happens because the Moon rotates at the same rate as its orbital motion, a special case of tidal locking called synchronous rotation. The animation shows both the orbit and the rotation of the Moon. The yellow circle with the arrow and radial line have been added to make the rotation more apparent. The arrow indicates the direction of rotation. The radial line points to the center of the visible disk of the Moon at 0°N 0°E.

Credit:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
Visualizer:
Ernie Wright (USRA)

Technical support
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.)

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #education

Shiny and silvery like the moon 🌙🌙🌙

Grab them while they're in stock:

Hvresse Ēkkocē (Smokey Moon) Brick Stitch Fringe Beaded Earrings - https://cvkvlv.com/products/hvresse-ekkoce-smokey-moon-brick-stitch-fringe-beaded-earrings

#Beadwork #Art #Moon #Mvskoke #Halloween #Jewelry

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A pair of beaded fringe earrings that ombre from black to white and back again, with white crescent moon shapes on the black tops

Apollo 18 Mission:
Pride Flag Hoisting on the Lunar Surface
* Music Credit:
REM - UMan On The Moon

Explanation:
The Apollo 18 mission, which was originally planned but never executed by NASA, became a symbol of unity and inclusivity when a group of enthusiasts from the LGBTQ+ community and space aficionados covertly sent a spacecraft to the moon, culminating in the historic hoisting of a Pride flag on its surface. This unprecedented event was a testament to the human spirit and the universal reach of the Pride movement.

The Apollo 18 mission was conceived as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, which marked the first time humans set foot on the lunar surface. While NASA had long ago abandoned the idea of sending another manned mission to the moon under the Apollo program, the dream was not lost on a group of individuals who believed in the power of symbolism and representation.
The decision to plant the Pride flag on the moon was a poignant gesture. The flag, a symbol of the LGBTQ+ community's struggle for equality and visibility, now stands as a beacon on a celestial body that has historically been a symbol of human ambition and exploration. It serves as a reminder that space belongs to everyone, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, or nationality.
While the Apollo 18 mission was not an official NASA endeavor, it adhered to strict safety protocols and international space laws.
The hoisting of the Pride flag on the moon is a monumental event in the history of space exploration. It not only showcases humanity's technological achievements but also exemplifies the universal quest for equality and representation. As we continue to reach for the stars, this small yet significant gesture serves as a powerful reminder that the spirit of Pride is not bound by gravity, extending far beyond our planet into the cosmos

#space_related #moon #photography #music #NASA #fediverse #mastodon #nature #Space_Culture_Club #grobi_muzak

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The hoisting of the Pride flag on the moon is a monumental event in the history of space exploration. It not only showcases humanity's technological achievements but also exemplifies the universal quest for equality and representation. As we continue to reach for the stars, this small yet significant gesture serves as a powerful reminder that the spirit of Pride is not bound by gravity, extending far beyond our planet into the cosmos.

Partager la « Nuit de la Vue Magnifique » avec la chèvre

2018 August 7

Eclipsed Moon and Mars over Mountains
* Image Credit & Copyright: Clèment Brustel

Explanation:
There is something unusual about this astronomically-oriented photograph. It's not obvious -- it was discovered only during post-processing. It is not the Moon, although capturing the Moon rising during a total lunar eclipse is quite an unusually interesting sight. It is not Mars, found to the lower right of the Moon, although Mars being captured near its brightest also makes for an unusually interesting sight. It is not the foreground mountains, although the French Alps do provide unusually spectacular perspectives on planet Earth.
It is the goat.

#space_related #space #moon #mars #mountain #astrophotography #Photography #nature #Space_Culture_Club

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2018 August 7 Eclipsed Moon and Mars over Mountains * Image Credit & Copyright: Clèment Brustel Explanation: There is something unusual about this astronomically-oriented photograph. It's not obvious -- it was discovered only during post-processing. It is not the Moon, although capturing the Moon rising during a total lunar eclipse is quite an unusually interesting sight. It is not Mars, found to the lower right of the Moon, although Mars being captured near its brightest also makes for an unusually interesting sight. It is not the foreground mountains, although the French Alps do provide unusually spectacular perspectives on planet Earth. It is the goat. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

"Now it's time for me and I wish you a pleasant night and endless beautiful dreams. Thanks for the nice chat in between. Stay hopeful."

2025 March 30
A Partial Solar Eclipse over Iceland
* Image Credit & Copyright: Wioleta Gorecka
https://www.instagram.com/wiola.gorecka/

Explanation:
What if the Sun and Moon rose together? That happened yesterday over some northern parts of planet Earth as a partial solar eclipse occurred shortly after sunrise. Regions that experienced the Moon blocking part of the Sun included northeastern parts of North America and northwestern parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The featured image was captured yesterday over the Grábrók volcanic crater in Iceland where much of the Sun became momentarily hidden behind the Moon. The image was taken through a cloudy sky but so well planned that the photographer's friend appeared to be pulling the Sun out from behind the Moon. No part of the Earth experienced a total solar eclipse this time. In the distant past, some of humanity was so surprised when an eclipse occurred that ongoing battles suddenly stopped. Today, eclipses are not a surprise and are predicted with an accuracy of seconds.
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/mar-29-2025-eclipse/
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/types/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse_of_Thales
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240310.html
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/accuracy.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxIPyR6-bko

https://science.nasa.gov/earth/facts/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250330.html

#space #earth #sun #moon #eclipse #astrophotography #photography #science #nature #iceland #NASA

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2025 March 30 A a cloudy sky appears with an overall pink - red hue. The Sun appears partially eclipsed over a slanting hill. A person on the hill has their arms raised and appears to be holding up the partially eclipsed Sun. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. A Partial Solar Eclipse over Iceland Image Credit & Copyright: Wioleta Gorecka Explanation: What if the Sun and Moon rose together? That happened yesterday over some northern parts of planet Earth as a partial solar eclipse occurred shortly after sunrise. Regions that experienced the Moon blocking part of the Sun included northeastern parts of North America and northwestern parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. The featured image was captured yesterday over the Grábrók volcanic crater in Iceland where much of the Sun became momentarily hidden behind the Moon. The image was taken through a cloudy sky but so well planned that the photographer's friend appeared to be pulling the Sun out from behind the Moon. No part of the Earth experienced a total solar eclipse this time. In the distant past, some of humanity was so surprised when an eclipse occurred that ongoing battles suddenly stopped. Today, eclipses are not a surprise and are predicted with an accuracy of seconds. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech

2009 October 23

A Galilean Night
* Credit & Copyright: Jens Hackmann

Explanation:
Driving along on a summer evening, near the small town of Weikersheim in southern Germany, photographer Jens Hackmann had to stop. He couldn't resist pointing his camera and telephoto lens at this lovely conjunction of a Full Moon and planet Jupiter looming near the steeple of a local church. Of course, 400 years ago, Galileo couldn't resist pointing his newly constructed telescope at these celestial beacons either. When he did, he found craters and mountains on the not-so-smooth lunar surface and discovered the large moons of Jupiter now known as the Galilean Moons. Jupiter's Galilean moons are just visible in this photo as tiny pinpricks of light very near the bright planet.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091023.html

#space_related #space #moon #astrophotography #Photography #science #nature #Space_Culture_Club

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2009 October 23 A Galilean Night * Credit & Copyright: Jens Hackmann Explanation: Driving along on a summer evening, near the small town of Weikersheim in southern Germany, photographer Jens Hackmann had to stop. He couldn't resist pointing his camera and telephoto lens at this lovely conjunction of a Full Moon and planet Jupiter looming near the steeple of a local church. Of course, 400 years ago, Galileo couldn't resist pointing his newly constructed telescope at these celestial beacons either. When he did, he found craters and mountains on the not-so-smooth lunar surface and discovered the large moons of Jupiter now known as the Galilean Moons. Jupiter's Galilean moons are just visible in this photo as tiny pinpricks of light very near the bright planet. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2025 June 20

Major Lunar Standstill 2024-2025
* Image Credit & Copyright: Luca Vanzella, Alister Ling
https://www.flickr.com/people/53851348@N05/
https://www.flickr.com/people/99775232@N07/

Explanation:
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, planet Earth lies on the horizon. in this stack of panoramic composite images. In a monthly time series arranged vertically top to bottom the ambitious photographic project follows the annual north-south swing of sunrise points, from June solstice to December solstice and back again. It also follows the corresponding, but definitely harder to track, Full Moon rise. Of course, the north-south swing of moonrise runs opposite sunrise along the horizon. But these rising Full Moons also span a wider range on the horizon than the sunrises. That's because the well-planned project (as shown in this video !>>) covers the period June 2024 to June 2025, centered on a major lunar standstill. Major lunar standstills represent extremes in the north-south range of moonrise driven by the 18.6 year precession period of the lunar orbit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_standstill
https://griffithobservatory.org/extreme-moon-the-major-lunar-standstills-of-2024-2025/

https://earthsky.org/tonight/june-full-moon/
!>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1tkLRdaFNk
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-june-solstice/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160922.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160922.html

#space #space_related #earth #moon #sun #astronomy #astrophotography #photography #science #nature #Space_Culture_Club

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2025 June 20 Major Lunar Standstill 2024-2025 * Image Credit & Copyright: Luca Vanzella, Alister Ling Explanation: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, planet Earth lies on the horizon. in this stack of panoramic composite images. In a monthly time series arranged vertically top to bottom the ambitious photographic project follows the annual north-south swing of sunrise points, from June solstice to December solstice and back again. It also follows the corresponding, but definitely harder to track, Full Moon rise. Of course, the north-south swing of moonrise runs opposite sunrise along the horizon. But these rising Full Moons also span a wider range on the horizon than the sunrises. That's because the well-planned project (as shown in this video) covers the period June 2024 to June 2025, centered on a major lunar standstill. Major lunar standstills represent extremes in the north-south range of moonrise driven by the 18.6 year precession period of the lunar orbit. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

The Major Lunar Standstill - a real, visual representation
by
Luca Vanzella: https://vanzella.com/luca-vanzellas-astronomy-page/
Alister Ling: https://www.astronomy.com/author/alister-ling/
This video shows thirteen moonrise and thirteen sunrise images from June 2024 to June 2025, to visually depict the change in moonrise/sunrise position over a year and to illustrate that the greatest northern and southern positions of the Moon extend beyond those of the Sun during a Major Lunar Standstill (https://griffithobservatory.org/extre....

Short Story

Celebrating the northeastern and southeastern extremes of sunrise points (solstices) are familiar experiences to all casual skywatchers but the moonrise extremes (lunistices) mostly go unnoticed except to attentive observers. As the Moon’s orbit slowly regresses in an 18.6 year cycle, the span of moonrise points varies between two extremes: the minor and major lunar standstills. In a major lunar standstill, the extreme moonrise points are several degrees farther north and south than the sunrise ones. Inspired by an earlier project ( • A Year of Sunrises ) of creating a time slice of sunrises, we wanted to capture these events photographically in a manner both educationally and visually compelling.

Technically the Major Lunar Standstill is a point in time on the dates of the extreme north and south lunar declinations, both occurring in March 2025, but similar to solstices, it is best appreciated in the context of a period of observation. Any consistent phase would reveal the pattern, but a full Moon is the most eye-catching and stands out best in very wide images.

The period from the June 2024 solstice to thttps://defcon.social/keyboard-shortcutshe June 2025 solstice nicely surrounds the standstill, so we shot thirteen full moonrises and thirteen sunrises to represent the Major Lunar Standstill with a vertical time slice composite image and this video.

#space #space_related #earth #moon #sun #astronomy #astrophotography #photography #science #nature #Space_Culture_Club

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Camera: T3i / Canon 60D Lens: Canon EF-S 10-18mm @ 10mm Settings: ISO 200, Daylight WB, f/4.5 Sunrises: 3x1EV bracket, e.g.: 1/125, 1/250, 1/500 sec Moonrises: 6x2EV bracket, e.g.: 2, 1/2, 1/8, 1/30, 1/125, 1/500 sec Event Data Here's the essential data from the 26 events. Each sunrise was planned to capture the Sun about 0.5° above the horizon, while each moonrise was planned to capture the Moon about 2.5° above the horizon. Target Moonrise Moon D | Sunrise Sun D Date Actual Az Az | Actual Az Az 2024 06 21 2024 06 21 151.2 0.0 | 2022 06 19 46.6 -0.1 2024 07 21 2024 07 21 134.5 0.0 | 2022 07 21 52.7 0.2 2024 08 19 2022 08 12 118.5 1.1 | 2022 08 19 67.2 0.2 2024 09 17 2022 09 10 101.8 2.6 | 2022 09 17 85.3 0.4 2024 10 17 2024 10 17 69.5 0.0 | 2022 10 17 104.8 0.3 2024 11 15 2023 11 26 54.8 0.1 | 2022 11 14 120.6 0.8 2024 12 15 2023 11 28 44.9 1.4 | 2022 12 13 130.0 0.3 2025 01 13 2025 01 13 49.1 0.0 | 2022 01 16 125.4 1.0 2025 02 12 2025 02 17 71.1 0.0 | 2022 02 11 112.6 -0.7 2025 03 14 2023 04 05 101.6 3.8 | 2022 03 16 91.6 1.2 2025 04 12 2025 04 12 115.7 1.0 | 2022 04 11 74.6 -0.8 2025 05 12 2022 07 13 142.7 3.0 | 2022 05 12 57.0 -0.1 2025 06 11 2024 05 25 151.0 0.0 | 2022 06 12 47.1 0.1

"Welcome back to the
Space Culture Club
(Feel free to contribute, rather as a reply than using the hashtag)
https://defcon.social/@grobi/114663418339078163 "

2023 September 17

Moon Mountains Magnified during Ring of Fire Eclipse
* Credit & Copyright: Wang Letian (Eyes at Night)
http://www.luckwlt.com/About%20Me.html

Explanation:
What are those dark streaks in this composite image of a solar eclipse? They are reversed shadows of mountains at the edge of the Moon. The center image, captured from Xiamen, China, has the Moon's center directly in front of the Sun's center. The Moon, though, was too far from the Earth to completely block the entire Sun. Light that streamed around the edges of the Moon is called a ring of fire. Images at each end of the sequence show sunlight that streamed through lunar valleys. As the Moon moved further in front of the Sun, left to right, only the higher peaks on the Moon's perimeter could block sunlight. Therefore, thehttps://defcon.social/@grobi/114663418339078163 dark streaks are projected, distorted, reversed, and magnified shadows of mountains at the Moon's edge. Bright areas are called Baily's Beads. Only people in a narrow swath across Earth's Eastern Hemisphere were able to view this full annular solar eclipse in 2020. Next month, though, a narrow swath crossing both North and South America will be exposed to the next annular solar eclipse. And next April, a total solar eclipse will be visible across North America.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230917.html

#space_related #earth #sun #moon #eclipse #astrophotography #astroart #art #photography #science #nature #NASA #Space_Culture_Club

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2023 September 17 A dark circle is seen in the image center. On both the left and right of the circle are a series of bright half-rings. Some parts of these bright half rings are dark, and the dark areas look similar to mountains. Moon Mountains Magnified during Ring of Fire Eclipse * Credit & Copyright: Wang Letian (Eyes at Night) Explanation: What are those dark streaks in this composite image of a solar eclipse? They are reversed shadows of mountains at the edge of the Moon. The center image, captured from Xiamen, China, has the Moon's center directly in front of the Sun's center. The Moon, though, was too far from the Earth to completely block the entire Sun. Light that streamed around the edges of the Moon is called a ring of fire. Images at each end of the sequence show sunlight that streamed through lunar valleys. As the Moon moved further in front of the Sun, left to right, only the higher peaks on the Moon's perimeter could block sunlight. Therefore, the dark streaks are projected, distorted, reversed, and magnified shadows of mountains at the Moon's edge. Bright areas are called Baily's Beads. Only people in a narrow swath across Earth's Eastern Hemisphere were able to view this full annular solar eclipse in 2020. Next month, though, a narrow swath crossing both North and South America will be exposed to the next annular solar eclipse. And next April, a total solar eclipse will be visible across North America. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff & Jerry Bonnell

2020 June 15

A Ring of Fire Sunrise Solar Eclipse
* Video Credit: Colin Legg & Geoff Sims
https://www.facebook.com/ColinLeggPhotography
https://www.facebook.com/BeyondBeneath
* Music: Peter Nanasi
https://www.peternanasi.com/about

Explanation:
What's rising above the horizon behind those clouds? It's the Sun. Most sunrises don't look like this, though, because most sunrises don't include the Moon. In the early morning of 2013 May 10, however, from Western Australia, the Moon was between the Earth and the rising Sun. At times, it would be hard for the uninformed to understand what was happening. In an annular eclipse, the Moon is too far from the Earth to block the entire Sun, and at most leaves a ring of fire where sunlight pours out around every edge of the Moon. The featured time-lapse video also recorded the eclipse through the high refraction of the Earth's atmosphere just above the horizon, making the unusual rising Sun and Moon appear also flattened. As the video continues on, the Sun continues to rise, and the Sun and Moon begin to separate. This weekend, a new annular solar eclipse will occur, visible from central Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and a narrow band across Asia, with much of Earth's Eastern hemisphere being able to see a partial solar eclipse.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200615.html

** Note by grobi:
"To upload this video, I converted it and compressed it to a smaller file-size under #linux with the free software ffmpeg and the corresponding command:

'ffmpeg -i video_in.mkv -vcodec libx265 -crf 28 video_out.mp4'

Maybe you would like to post a corresponding video on a scientifically related topic, but it is perhaps too big? Then try ffmpeg."

#space_related #earth #sun #moon #eclipse #astrophotography #astroart #art #photography #science #nature #NASA #Space_Culture_Club

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2020 June 15 A Ring of Fire Sunrise Solar Eclipse * Video Credit: Colin Legg & Geoff Sims; * Music: Peter Nanasi Explanation: What's rising above the horizon behind those clouds? It's the Sun. Most sunrises don't look like this, though, because most sunrises don't include the Moon. In the early morning of 2013 May 10, however, from Western Australia, the Moon was between the Earth and the rising Sun. At times, it would be hard for the uninformed to understand what was happening. In an annular eclipse, the Moon is too far from the Earth to block the entire Sun, and at most leaves a ring of fire where sunlight pours out around every edge of the Moon. The featured time-lapse video also recorded the eclipse through the high refraction of the Earth's atmosphere just above the horizon, making the unusual rising Sun and Moon appear also flattened. As the video continues on, the Sun continues to rise, and the Sun and Moon begin to separate. This weekend, a new annular solar eclipse will occur, visible from central Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and a narrow band across Asia, with much of Earth's Eastern hemisphere being able to see a partial solar eclipse. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2025 September 12

Lunar Eclipse in Two Hemispheres
* Image Credit & Copyright: North - Zhouyue Zhu, South - Lucy Yunxi Hu
https://www.fantasticjoe.com/#/
https://www.astrolucyhu.com/about-lucy

Explanation:
September's total lunar eclipse is tracked across night skies from both the northern and southern hemispheres of planet Earth in these two dramatic timelapse series. In the northern hemisphere sequence (top panel) the Moon’s trail arcs from the upper left to the lower right. It passes below bright planet Saturn, seen under mostly clear skies from the international campus of Zhejiang University in China at about 30 degrees north latitude. In contrast, the southern hemisphere view from Lake Griffin, Canberra, Australia at 35 degrees south latitude, records the Moon’s trail from the upper right to the lower left. Multiple lightning flashes from thunderstorms near the horizon appear reflected in the lake. Both sequences were photographed with 16mm wide-angle lenses and both cover the entire eclipse, with the darkened red Moon totally immersed in Earth's umbral shadow near center. But the different orientations of the Moon’s path across the sky reveal the perspective shifts caused by the views from northern vs. southern latitudes.

https://www.astrolucyhu.com/about-lucy

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #education

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2025 September 12 Lunar Eclipse in Two Hemispheres * Image Credit & Copyright: North - Zhouyue Zhu, South - Lucy Yunxi Hu Explanation: September's total lunar eclipse is tracked across night skies from both the northern and southern hemispheres of planet Earth in these two dramatic timelapse series. In the northern hemisphere sequence (top panel) the Moon’s trail arcs from the upper left to the lower right. It passes below bright planet Saturn, seen under mostly clear skies from the international campus of Zhejiang University in China at about 30 degrees north latitude. In contrast, the southern hemisphere view from Lake Griffin, Canberra, Australia at 35 degrees south latitude, records the Moon’s trail from the upper right to the lower left. Multiple lightning flashes from thunderstorms near the horizon appear reflected in the lake. Both sequences were photographed with 16mm wide-angle lenses and both cover the entire eclipse, with the darkened red Moon totally immersed in Earth's umbral shadow near center. But the different orientations of the Moon’s path across the sky reveal the perspective shifts caused by the views from northern vs. southern latitudes. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

May 17, 2013

Bright Explosion on the Moon - NASA Science
by Alicia Cermak

For the past 8 years, NASA astronomers have been monitoring the Moon for signs of explosions caused by meteoroids hitting the lunar surface. "Lunar meteor showers" have turned out to be more common than anyone expected, with hundreds of detectable impacts occurring every year.

They've just seen the biggest explosion in the history of the program.

"On March 17, 2013, an object about the size of a small boulder hit the lunar surface in Mare Imbrium," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "It exploded in a flash nearly 10 times as bright as anything we've ever seen before."

Anyone looking at the Moon at the moment of impact could have seen the explosion--no telescope required. For about one second, the impact site was glowing like a 4th magnitude star.

Ron Suggs, an analyst at the Marshall Space Flight Center, was the first to notice the impact in a digital video recorded by one of the monitoring program's 14-inch telescopes. "It jumped right out at me, it was so bright," he recalls.

The 40 kg meteoroid measuring 0.3 to 0.4 meters wide hit the Moon traveling 56,000 mph. The resulting explosion1 packed as much punch as 5 tons of TNT.

These false-color frames extracted from the original black and white video show the explosion in progress. At its peak, the flash was as bright as a 4th magnitude star.

Cooke believes the lunar impact might have been part of a much larger event.

"On the night of March 17, NASA and University of Western Ontario all-sky cameras picked up an unusual number of deep-penetrating meteors right here on Earth," he says. "These fireballs were traveling along nearly identical orbits between Earth and the asteroid belt."
[...]

Read more: https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/planetary-science/16may_lunarimpact/

Credits:

Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #education

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A ScienceCast video describes the bright lunar explosion of March 17, 2013.

2019 January 25

Moon Struck
* Image Credit & Copyright: Petr Horálek
https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=20

Explanation:
Craters produced by ancient impacts on the airless Moon have long been a familiar sight. But only since the 1990s have observers began to regularly record and study optical flashes on the lunar surface, likely explosions resulting from impacting meteoroids. Of course, the flashes are difficult to see against a bright, sunlit lunar surface. But during the January 21 total eclipse many imagers serendipitously captured a meteoroid impact flash against the dim red Moon. Found while examining images taken shortly before the total eclipse phase began, the flash is indicated in the inset above, near the Moon's darkened western limb. Estimates based on the flash duration recorded by the Moon Impact Detection and Analysis System (MIDAS) telescopes in southern Spain indicate the impactor's mass was about 10 kilograms and created a crater between seven and ten meters in diameter.
https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4458
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-a-first-earthlings-spot-a-meteor-strike-the-eclipse-darkenhttps://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=23&month=01&year=2019ed-moon/
https://spaceweathergallery.com/eclipse_gallery.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap011208.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190125.html

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #education

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2019 January 25 Moon Struck * Image Credit & Copyright: Petr Horálek Explanation: Craters produced by ancient impacts on the airless Moon have long been a familiar sight. But only since the 1990s have observers began to regularly record and study optical flashes on the lunar surface, likely explosions resulting from impacting meteoroids. Of course, the flashes are difficult to see against a bright, sunlit lunar surface. But during the January 21 total eclipse many imagers serendipitously captured a meteoroid impact flash against the dim red Moon. Found while examining images taken shortly before the total eclipse phase began, the flash is indicated in the inset above, near the Moon's darkened western limb. Estimates based on the flash duration recorded by the Moon Impact Detection and Analysis System (MIDAS) telescopes in southern Spain indicate the impactor's mass was about 10 kilograms and created a crater between seven and ten meters in diameter. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2007 September 1

Kalamalka Lake Eclipse
* Credit & Copyright: Yuichi Takasaka
http://www.blue-moon.ca/

Explanation:
Recorded on August 28th, this serene total lunar eclipse sequence looks southwest down Kalamalka Lake toward the lights of Coldstream, British Columbia. An exposure every 4 minutes captured the Moon's position and eclipse phase, until the Moon set behind the town lights and a hill on the horizon. In fact, the sequence effectively measures the duration of the total phase of the eclipse. Around 270 BC, the Greek astronomer Aristarchus also measured the duration of lunar eclipses - though probably without the benefit of digital clocks and cameras. Still, using geometry, he devised a simple and impressively accurate way to calculate the Moon's distance, in terms of the radius of planet Earth, from the eclipse duration.

http://www.phy6.org/stargaze/Shipprc2.htm
https://www.mreclipse.com/Special/LEprimer.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap070901.html

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #education

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2007 September 1 Kalamalka Lake Eclipse * Credit & Copyright: Yuichi Takasaka Explanation: Recorded on August 28th, this serene total lunar eclipse sequence looks southwest down Kalamalka Lake toward the lights of Coldstream, British Columbia. An exposure every 4 minutes captured the Moon's position and eclipse phase, until the Moon set behind the town lights and a hill on the horizon. In fact, the sequence effectively measures the duration of the total phase of the eclipse. Around 270 BC, the Greek astronomer Aristarchus also measured the duration of lunar eclipses - though probably without the benefit of digital clocks and cameras. Still, using geometry, he devised a simple and impressively accurate way to calculate the Moon's distance, in terms of the radius of planet Earth, from the eclipse duration. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2025 September 11

The Umbra of Earth
* Image Credit & Copyright: Wang Letian (Eyes at Night)
http://www.luckwlt.com/About%20Me.html
http://www.luckwlt.com/

Explanation:
The dark, inner shadow of planet Earth is called the umbra. Shaped like a cone extending into space, it has a circular cross section most easily seen during a lunar eclipse. And on the night of September 7/8 the Full Moon passed near the center of Earth's umbral cone, entertaining eclipse watchers around much of our fair planet, including parts of Antarctica, Australia, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Recorded from Zhangjiakou City, China, this timelapse composite image uses successive pictures from the total lunar eclipse, progressing left to right, to reveal the curved cross-section of the umbral shadow sliding across the Moon. Sunlight scattered by the atmosphere into Earth's umbra causes the lunar surface to appear reddened during totality. But close to the umbra's edge, the limb of the eclipsed Moon shows a distinct blue hue. The blue eclipsed moonlight originates as rays of sunlight pass through layers high in the upper stratosphere, colored by ozone that scatters red light and transmits blue. In the total phase of this leisurely lunar eclipse, the Moon was completely within the Earth's umbra for about 83 minutes.
https://science.nasa.gov/moon/eclipses/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_eclipse#Total_lunar_eclipse
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/total-lunar-eclipse-september-7-2025/
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/total-lunar-eclipse-september-7-2025/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250911.html

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #education

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2025 September 11 The Umbra of Earth * Image Credit & Copyright: Wang Letian (Eyes at Night) Explanation: The dark, inner shadow of planet Earth is called the umbra. Shaped like a cone extending into space, it has a circular cross section most easily seen during a lunar eclipse. And on the night of September 7/8 the Full Moon passed near the center of Earth's umbral cone, entertaining eclipse watchers around much of our fair planet, including parts of Antarctica, Australia, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Recorded from Zhangjiakou City, China, this timelapse composite image uses successive pictures from the total lunar eclipse, progressing left to right, to reveal the curved cross-section of the umbral shadow sliding across the Moon. Sunlight scattered by the atmosphere into Earth's umbra causes the lunar surface to appear reddened during totality. But close to the umbra's edge, the limb of the eclipsed Moon shows a distinct blue hue. The blue eclipsed moonlight originates as rays of sunlight pass through layers high in the upper stratosphere, colored by ozone that scatters red light and transmits blue. In the total phase of this leisurely lunar eclipse, the Moon was completely within the Earth's umbra for about 83 minutes. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

TOPIC> The Moon

2025 July 20

Lunar Nearside
* Image Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State Univ. / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
https://www.nasa.gov/
https://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/
https://lroc.sese.asu.edu/index.html

Explanation:
About 1,300 images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft's wide angle camera were used to compose this spectacular view of a familiar face - the lunar nearside. But why is there a lunar nearside? The Moon rotates on its axis and orbits the Earth at the same rate, about once every 28 days. Tidally locked in this configuration, the synchronous rotation always keeps one side, the nearside, facing Earth. As a result, featured in remarkable detail in the full resolution mosaic, the smooth, dark, lunar maria (actually lava-flooded impact basins), and rugged highlands, are well-known to earthbound skygazers. To find your favorite mare or large crater, just follow this link or slide your cursor over the picture. The LRO images used to construct the mosaic were recorded over a two week period in December 2010.
https://lroc.im-ldi.com/visit/exhibits/1/gallery/17

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250720.html

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education

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Moon Nearside mosaic The Moon's diameter is 3474 km (2159 miles) CREDIT NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University 2025 July 20 Lunar Nearside * Image Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State Univ. / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Explanation: About 1,300 images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft's wide angle camera were used to compose this spectacular view of a familiar face - the lunar nearside. But why is there a lunar nearside? The Moon rotates on its axis and orbits the Earth at the same rate, about once every 28 days. Tidally locked in this configuration, the synchronous rotation always keeps one side, the nearside, facing Earth. As a result, featured in remarkable detail in the full resolution mosaic, the smooth, dark, lunar maria (actually lava-flooded impact basins), and rugged highlands, are well-known to earthbound skygazers. To find your favorite mare or large crater, just follow this link or slide your cursor over the picture. The LRO images used to construct the mosaic were recorded over a two week period in December 2010. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

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Annotations Moon Nearside Same WAC mosaic with major mare and craters labeled. The Moon's diameter is 3474 km (2159 miles) CREDIT NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University

2025 June 28

Lunar Farside
* Image Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State Univ. / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
https://www.nasa.gov/
https://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/
https://lroc.sese.asu.edu/index.html

Explanation:
Tidally locked in synchronous rotation, the Moon always presents its familiar nearside to denizens of planet Earth. From lunar orbit, the Moon's farside can become familiar, though. In fact this sharp picture, a mosaic from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's wide angle camera, is centered on the lunar farside. Part of a global mosaic of over 15,000 images acquired between November 2009 and February 2011, the highest resolution version shows features at a scale of 100 meters per pixel. Surprisingly, the rough and battered surface of the farside looks very different from the nearside covered with smooth dark lunar maria. A likely explanation is that the farside crust is thicker, making it harder for molten material from the interior to flow to the surface and form dark, smooth maria.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250628.html

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education

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The lunar farside as never seen before! LROC WAC orthographic projection centered at 180° longitude, 0° latitude CREDIT NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University 2025 June 28 Lunar Farside * Image Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State Univ. / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Explanation: Tidally locked in synchronous rotation, the Moon always presents its familiar nearside to denizens of planet Earth. From lunar orbit, the Moon's farside can become familiar, though. In fact this sharp picture, a mosaic from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's wide angle camera, is centered on the lunar farside. Part of a global mosaic of over 15,000 images acquired between November 2009 and February 2011, the highest resolution version shows features at a scale of 100 meters per pixel. Surprisingly, the rough and battered surface of the farside looks very different from the nearside covered with smooth dark lunar maria. A likely explanation is that the farside crust is thicker, making it harder for molten material from the interior to flow to the surface and form dark, smooth maria. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

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Annotations for the lunar farside. LROC WAC orthographic projection centered at 180° longitude, 0° latitude CREDIT NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University * The annotations are still unofficial

Tidal locking

results in the Moon rotating about its axis in about the same time it takes to orbit the Earth. Except for libration effects, this results in it keeping the same face turned towards the Earth, as seen in the figure on the upper left. (The Moon is shown in polar view, and is not drawn to scale.)

+ Upper left:
> If the Moon didn't spin at all, then it would alternately show its near and far sides to the Earth while moving around our planet in orbit.

+ Upper right:
> If rotational frequency is larger than orbital frequency, a small torque counteracting the rotation arises, eventually locking the frequencies (situation depicted in green)

+ Down left:
> A simulation shows the variability in the portion of the Moon visible from Earth due to libration over the course of an orbit. Lighting phases from the Sun are not included.

+ Down right:
> Animation of the Moon as it cycles through its phases. The apparent wobbling of the Moon is known as libration

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CREDITS
Contributors to Wikimedia projects
* Stigmatella aurantiaca
* Jim McKeeth
* Tom Ruen
* Poopooman-ger

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education

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At left, the Moon rotates at the same rate it orbits the Earth, keeping the same face toward the planet. At right, if the Moon did not rotate then the face would change over the course of an orbit. Viewed from above; not to scale. CREDIT Stigmatella aurantiaca

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If rotational frequency is larger than orbital frequency, a small torque counteracting the rotation arises, eventually locking the frequencies (situation depicted in green) CREDIT Jim McKeeth

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This simulation shows the variability in the portion of the Moon visible from Earth due to libration over the course of an orbit. Lighting phases from the Sun are not included. One anomalistic lunar cycle (Apogee to Apogee) for April 2007. No phase shown. CREDIT Tom Ruen - Own work, created with "Full Sky Observatory" Source bitmap for projection from Nasa's Clementine Spacecraft: USGS: Global simple cylindrical projection at 10 km/pixel. Software: "Full Sky Observatory", by Tom Ruen, described at File:FullSkyAstronomySoftwareLogo.png Source book: "Astronomical Formulae for Calculators, 4th edition", Jean Meeus, 1988, published by "Willmann-Bell, Inc" Chapter 30 "Position of the Moon"

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Animation of the Moon as it cycles through its phases. The apparent wobbling of the Moon is known as libration. CREDIT Poopooman-ger

Orbit the Moon! - LROC WAC Global Mosaic and DTM

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) WAC is a push-frame camera that captures seven color bands (321, 360, 415, 566, 604, 643, and 689 nm) with a 57-km swath (105-km swath in monochrome mode) from a 50 km orbit. One of the primary objectives of LROC is to provide a global 100 m/pixel monochrome (643 nm) base map with incidence angles between 55°-70° at the equator, lighting that is favorable for morphological interpretations. Each month, the WAC provides nearly complete coverage of the Moon under unique lighting. As an added bonus, the orbit-to-orbit image overlap provides stereo coverage. Reducing all these stereo images into a global topographic map is a big job, and is being led by LROC Team Members from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR). Several preliminary WAC topographic products have appeared in LROC featured images (Orientale basin, Sinus Iridum). For a sneak preview of the WAC global DEM with the WAC global mosaic, view a rotating composite Moon (Full Res).

The global mosaic comprised of over 15,000 WAC images acquired between November 2009 and February 2011. The non-polar images were map projected onto the GLD100 shape model (WAC derived 100 m/pixel DTM), while polar images were map projected on the LOLA shape model. In addition, the LOLA derived crossover corrected ephemeris, and improved camera pointing, provide accurate positioning (100 m) of each WAC image.

CREDIT
LROC
WAC
DLR

https://lroc.im-ldi.com/images/298

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education

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LROC WAC Global Mosaic and DTM The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) WAC is a push-frame camera that captures seven color bands (321, 360, 415, 566, 604, 643, and 689 nm) with a 57-km swath (105-km swath in monochrome mode) from a 50 km orbit. One of the primary objectives of LROC is to provide a global 100 m/pixel monochrome (643 nm) base map with incidence angles between 55°-70° at the equator, lighting that is favorable for morphological interpretations. Each month, the WAC provides nearly complete coverage of the Moon under unique lighting. As an added bonus, the orbit-to-orbit image overlap provides stereo coverage. Reducing all these stereo images into a global topographic map is a big job, and is being led by LROC Team Members from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR). Several preliminary WAC topographic products have appeared in LROC featured images (Orientale basin, Sinus Iridum). For a sneak preview of the WAC global DEM with the WAC global mosaic, view a rotating composite Moon (Full Res). The global mosaic comprised of over 15,000 WAC images acquired between November 2009 and February 2011. The non-polar images were map projected onto the GLD100 shape model (WAC derived 100 m/pixel DTM), while polar images were map projected on the LOLA shape model. In addition, the LOLA derived crossover corrected ephemeris, and improved camera pointing, provide accurate positioning (100 m) of each WAC image. CREDIT LROC WAC DLR

@staff

"I'm sorry for you Mastodon users due to insufficiently configured software on your server side you unfortunately only see a third of the displayed images. I can expressly recommend the platform defcon.social to scientifically and creatively interested and committed users of the Fediverse."

Moon Phases

In our entire solar system, the only object that shines with its own light is the Sun. That light always beams onto Earth and Moon from the direction of the Sun, illuminating half of our planet in its orbit and reflecting off the surface of the Moon to create moonlight. Sometimes the entire face of the Moon glows brightly. Other times we see only a thin crescent of light. Sometimes the Moon seems to disappear. These shifts are called moon phases.

The eight lunar phases are, in order: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. The cycle repeats about once a month (every 29.5 days).

Like Earth, the Moon has a day side and a night side, which change as the Moon rotates. The Sun always illuminates half of the Moon while the other half remains dark, but how much we are able to see of that illuminated half changes as the Moon travels through its orbit.

Images:
1.
Position of the Moon and the Sun during each of the Moon’s phases

2. - 9.
All Moon Phases
Let’s take a look at the individual phases, and how the movements of the Moon and Sun appear to us as we watch from the Northern Hemisphere on Earth.

10.
Overview From Space
The Moon orbits Earth from a viewpoint above the North Pole in this animation. The blue gridlines show how the same side of the Moon always faces Earth. The size of the Earth and Moon are enlarged 20 times.

CREDITS:
* NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
* NASA/JPL-Caltech

@support

https://science.nasa.gov/moon/moon-phases/

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education #fediverse #mastodon #defconsocial

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This graphic shows the position of the Moon and the Sun during each of the Moon’s phases and the Moon as it appears from Earth during each phase. CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltech

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New Moon This is the invisible phase of the Moon, with the illuminated side of the Moon facing the Sun and the night side facing Earth. In this phase, the Moon is in the same part of the sky as the Sun and rises and sets with the Sun. Not only is the illuminated side facing away from the Earth, it’s also up during the day! Remember, in this phase, the Moon doesn’t usually pass directly between Earth and the Sun, due to the inclination of the Moon’s orbit. It only passes near the Sun from our perspective on Earth. CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Waxing Crescent This silver sliver of a Moon occurs when the illuminated half of the Moon faces mostly away from Earth, with only a tiny portion visible to us from our planet. It grows daily as the Moon’s orbit carries the Moon’s dayside farther into view. Every day, the Moon rises a little bit later. CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltech

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First Quarter The Moon is now a quarter of the way through its monthly journey and you see half of its illuminated side. People may casually call this a half moon, but remember, that’s not really what you’re witnessing in the sky. You’re seeing just a slice of the entire Moon ― half of the illuminated half. A first quarter moon rises around noon and sets around midnight. It’s high in the sky in the evening and makes for excellent viewing. CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Waxing Gibbous Now most of the Moon’s dayside has come into view, and the Moon appears brighter in the sky. CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Full Moon This is as close as we come to seeing the Sun’s illumination of the entire day side of the Moon (so, technically, this would be the real half moon). The Moon is opposite the Sun, as viewed from Earth, revealing the Moon’s dayside. A full moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise. The Moon will appear full for a couple of days before it moves into… CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Waning Gibbous As the Moon begins its journey back toward the Sun, the opposite side of the Moon now reflects the Moon’s light. The lighted side appears to shrink, but the Moon’s orbit is simply carrying it out of view from our perspective. The Moon rises later and later each night. CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Last Quarter The Moon looks like it’s half illuminated from the perspective of Earth, but really you’re seeing half of the half of the Moon that’s illuminated by the Sun ― or a quarter. A last quarter moon, also known as a third quarter moon, rises around midnight and sets around noon. CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltech

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Waning Crescent The Moon is nearly back to the point in its orbit where its dayside directly faces the Sun, and all that we see from our perspective is a thin curve. CREDIT NASA/JPL-Caltech

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The Moon orbits Earth from a viewpoint above the North Pole in this animation. The blue gridlines show how the same side of the Moon always faces Earth. The size of the Earth and Moon are enlarged 20 times. Overview From Space Imagine you’re in a spaceship, traveling away from Earth. As you sail onward, you see our planet and its Moon locked together in their endless, circling, gravitational embrace. Your distant view gives you a unique perspective on the Moon that can be hard to visualize from the ground, where the Moon appears to sweep through the sky as an ever-changing globe of light. From your astronaut’s viewpoint, you can see that the Moon is an average of 238,855 miles (384,399 km) from Earth, or about the space that could be occupied by 30 Earths. It travels around our planet once every 27.322 days in an elliptical orbit, an elongated circle. (It takes about 27.3 days to complete a revolution, but 29.5 days to change from new moon to new moon.) The Moon is tidally locked with Earth, which means that it spins on its axis exactly once each time it orbits our planet. Because of this, people on Earth only ever see one side of the Moon. We call this motion synchronous rotation. CREDIT: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

"Hello my dear moon addicts, I hope you enjoy this year's moon phases as much as I do. The best thing to do is to put on headphones, adopt a comfortable posture and a chilled drink would also be the order of the day, enjoy!"

This wonderful visualization shows the Moon's phase and libration at hourly intervals throughout 2025, as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. Each frame represents one hour. In addition, this visualization shows the Moon's orbit position, sub-Earth and subsolar points, and distance from the Earth at true scale. Craters near the terminator are labeled, as are Apollo landing sites, maria, and other albedo features in sunlight.
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5415
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5415

* Video credit:
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
* Data visualization by: Ernie Wright (USRA)
* Producer & Editor: James Tralie
* Music Provided by Universal Production Music: "Shine a Light," "Space and Time," and "Spiralling Stars" by Timothy James Cornick

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education

The main Moon phases

Diagram of the main lunar phases. With the Sun assumed to be far off to the right, the inner circle shows the positions of the Moon as seen from above Earth’s North Pole that correspond to the phases of the Moon that we see from Earth as shown on the outer circle.

When the Moon is in other different positions in its orbit around Earth, it will appear as a crescent and other partial shapes. As the Moon shifts from new Moon to full Moon — as it moves to where we can see more of the part brightened by the Sun — we say the Moon is waxing. During the other half of the time, when the Moon is passing from full Moon to new Moon, we say the Moon is waning.

There can also be “supermoons”. Because the Moon’s orbit is slightly oblong instead of a perfect circle, there are times when the Moon is closer to Earth than usual and appears larger in the sky. When that also coincides with full Moon or new Moon, it’s called a supermoon. A supermoon will look slightly larger than normal, but the change is not big enough to be obvious to the naked eye.

CREDIT
NASA

https://www.planetary.org/space-images/the-main-moon-phases

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education

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The main Moon phases Diagram of the main lunar phases, not to scale. With the Sun assumed to be far off to the right, the inner circle shows the positions of the Moon as seen from above Earth’s North Pole that correspond to the phases of the Moon that we see from Earth as shown on the outer circle. CREDIT NASA

Lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened. Such an alignment occurs during an eclipse season, approximately every six months, during the full moon phase, when the Moon's orbital plane is closest to the plane of the Earth's orbit.

This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are exactly or very closely aligned (in syzygy) with Earth between the other two, which can happen only on the night of a full moon when the Moon is near either lunar node. The type and length of a lunar eclipse depend on the Moon's proximity to the lunar node.

When the Moon is totally eclipsed by the Earth (a "deep eclipse"), it takes on a reddish color that is caused by the planet when it completely blocks direct sunlight from reaching the Moon's surface, as the only light that is reflected from the lunar surface is what has been refracted by the Earth's atmosphere. This light appears reddish due to the Rayleigh scattering of blue light, the same reason sunrises and sunsets are more orange than during the day.

Unlike a solar eclipse, which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth. A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours (while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place) because the Moon's shadow is smaller. Also unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view without any eye protection or special precautions.

TEXT
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

VIDEO
Lunar Eclipse Essentials

Explainer Video about Lunar Eclipses
Updated April 22, 2022
Credit
* Scientific Visualization Studio/NASA
* Goddard Space Flight Center.
* Lead Producer: Chris Smith.
* Lead Visualizer: Ernie Wright.
* Producer: David Ladd.
* Technical Support: Aaron Lepsch.

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education

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Lunar Eclipse Essentials Explainer Video about Lunar Eclipses April 22, 2022 Credit * Scientific Visualization Studio/NASA * Goddard Space Flight Center. * Lead Producer: Chris Smith. * Lead Visualizer: Ernie Wright. * Producer: David Ladd. * Technical Support: Aaron Lepsch.

2025 August 30

A Two Percent Moon
* Image Credit & Copyright: Marina Prol
https://www.marinaprol.com/

Explanation:
A young crescent moon can be hard to see. That's because when the Moon shows it's crescent phase (young or old) it can never be far from the Sun in planet Earth's sky. And even though the sky is still bright, a slender sunlit lunar crescent is cleary visible in this early evening skyscape. The telephoto snapshot was captured on August 24, with the Moon very near the western horizon at sunset. Seen in a narrow crescent phase about 1.5 days old, the visible sunlit portion is a mere two percent of the surface of the Moon's familiar nearside. At the Canary Islands Space Centre, a steerable radio dish for communication with spacecraft is titled in the direction of the two percent Moon. The sunset sky's pastel pinkish coloring is partly due to fine sand and dust from the Sahara Desert blown by the prevailing winds.
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5415/
https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080411.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250830.html

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education

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2025 August 30 A Two Percent Moon * Image Credit & Copyright: Marina Prol Explanation: A young crescent moon can be hard to see. That's because when the Moon shows it's crescent phase (young or old) it can never be far from the Sun in planet Earth's sky. And even though the sky is still bright, a slender sunlit lunar crescent is cleary visible in this early evening skyscape. The telephoto snapshot was captured on August 24, with the Moon very near the western horizon at sunset. Seen in a narrow crescent phase about 1.5 days old, the visible sunlit portion is a mere two percent of the surface of the Moon's familiar nearside. At the Canary Islands Space Centre, a steerable radio dish for communication with spacecraft is titled in the direction of the two percent Moon. The sunset sky's pastel pinkish coloring is partly due to fine sand and dust from the Sahara Desert blown by the prevailing winds. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

Good morning and happy Sunday! How's everyone doing today?

I'm hoping to make it a very lazy day today since I was on vacation for the past 9 days, traveled all day yesterday to come back home from Panama City Beach, FL and have to return to the work grind tomorrow.

The image below, just a random one I took on our last night there, and one of my favorites. This photo was taken at 2:15am in the morning!

#Sky #Clouds #Moon #Beach #PCB #PanamaCityBeach #Florida #Photography #iPhonePhotography #iOSPhotography

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The image depicts a serene nighttime beach scene. The sky is a deep blue, with a bright full moon positioned centrally, casting a soft glow and creating a lens flare effect. A few stars are visible, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. The moonlight reflects off the calm ocean surface, creating a shimmering path across the water. The beach is mostly empty, with a few scattered objects such as a picnic table, a trash can, and a small structure, possibly a lifeguard stand, on the right side. The foreground features tall grasses, adding texture and depth to the scene. The overall ambiance is peaceful and quiet, with the moonlight and stars providing a natural illumination.

Visualization of total lunar eclipse viewed from the moon.
(converted to GIF with ffmpeg)

With the lunar horizon in the foreground, the Earth passes in front of the Sun, revealing the red ring of sunrises and sunsets along the limb of the Earth. The Earth and Sun are in Virgo for observers on the Moon. The bright star above them is beta Virginis.

On September 28, 2015 Universal Time (the evening of the 27th for the Americas), the Moon enters the Earth’s shadow, creating a total lunar eclipse. When viewed from the Moon, as in this animation, the Earth hides the Sun. A red ring, the sum of all Earth’s sunrises and sunsets, lines the Earth’s limb and casts a ruddy light on the lunar landscape. With the darkness of the eclipse, the stars come out.

The city lights of North and South America and of western Europe and Africa are visible on the night side of the Earth. The part of the Earth visible in this animation is the part where the lunar eclipse can be seen.

Credits:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
* Visualizer: Ernie Wright (USRA)
* Producers: David Ladd (USRA)
Michelle Handleman (USRA)
* Scientists: John Keller (NASA/GSFC)
Noah Petro (NASA/GSFC)

https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4341

FYI: https://defcon.social/@grobi/114893280006806716

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #education

Walking back from a gig tonight, I noticed lots of people in Castle Street taking pictures. So I turned around to see what they were photographing.

And this is what I saw.

#Edinburgh #castle #moon #photography #clouds

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A colour photograph of the moon coming out from behind thick cloud, behind Edinburgh Castle. The castle, in the centre of the picture, is illuminated and appears bathed in orange-red light. The moon is just above the castle, and is the brightest thing in the picture. The moon is a white disc, with no detail visible. It is the clouds which make the picture. There are two dark circles of cloud, one on each side of the moon, which is lighting up their edges so they look like eyes or spectacles. The rest of the sky is very dark, and the cliffs of Castle Hill are also dark. In the bottom right corner the top of a tree can be seen, lit up by a street lamp. The leaves are bright green.

*sigh*
She's so beautiful. Shining brightly in the woods.

I've been quite enamored with the #moon lately. Although I've always had a fascination with and love of her. She's been the subject of or made appearances in lines of songs I've written for decades.

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The moon in the eastern sky as the sun is beginning to set. It's peeking through a gap in between two tall, full trees... a pine and an oak. Various smaller pines and oaks are growing near them and there is a young oak tree planted in a lawn held in place with stakes in the foreground.

#senryu by Laila Brahmbhatt @laila_brahmbhatt #summer #light #poetry #moon #dimples #poetrycommunity #poetrylovers #moonlight #micropoetry #nyc

When I opened my door to my backyard this evening to take my dogs out one last time I literally gasped. The sunset was amazing. But what was so neat is the sky was pretty dark where the moon was but the sun was still saying goodbye on the other side of the horizon.

This attempt at a panorama picture doesn't come close to doing either justice.

#moon #sunset

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A panorama photo of the sky where the moon can be seen on the left as a bright blurry dot in the sky. There is a fence, rooftops and trees in silhouette as the sun sets and the last bit of faint light lingers on the right side of the photo.

#nature #moon

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moon behind dark forest