superflyninja wrote:I was looking at the moon last night actually(partly to calibrate my finder scope and focus). I read that when it is not full(like now) is the best time to see it. Its pretty amazing. The shadows on the surface really makes the detail pop. Its one thing to see images on screen but to be out in the open in pitch darkness actually seeing things with your own eyes(and scope) is something else.Vela wrote:And never forget the Moon. Through a decent telescope it is captivating.
Im useless with my binoculars though, cant hold them steady enough.
SpaceGazelle wrote:Interesting fact is the brightness of a full Moon. At 95℅ illuminated it's only half as bright as a full Moon. This is because the surface dust is actually small beads caused by high temperature meteor collisions, and they internally reflect light right back at you like a prism.superflyninja wrote:I was looking at the moon last night actually(partly to calibrate my finder scope and focus). I read that when it is not full(like now) is the best time to see it. Its pretty amazing. The shadows on the surface really makes the detail pop. Its one thing to see images on screen but to be out in the open in pitch darkness actually seeing things with your own eyes(and scope) is something else. Im useless with my binoculars though, cant hold them steady enough.Vela wrote:And never forget the Moon. Through a decent telescope it is captivating.
Vela wrote:This might be a silly question then but that would also be why astronauts wouldn't want to be out during high noon on the lunar surface? At least near the equator with the sun close to zenith.
GooberTheHat wrote:That makes sense. I didn't know meteors were so small, I always assumed they were golf ball/tennis ball size. Cheers.
SpaceGazelle wrote:They went at lunar dawn because it gets to around 200 degrees at noon.Vela wrote:This might be a silly question then but that would also be why astronauts wouldn't want to be out during high noon on the lunar surface? At least near the equator with the sun close to zenith.
Vela wrote:Aha. Yes. Two weeks of day then two weeks of night.
g.man wrote:If only the dinosaurs had had lazors...
SpaceGazelle wrote:Vela wrote:Aha. Yes. Two weeks of day then two weeks of night.
Yar, it's tidally locked to the Earth and so "turns" once a month.
SpaceGazelle wrote:Check out Pluto and Charon if you're reading up. It's quite a famous example.
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