Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: neilep on 14/06/2009 13:28:41

Title: Are We Just Incredibly Lucky to enjoy Solar Eclipses ?
Post by: neilep on 14/06/2009 13:28:41
Dearest Peeps Of Knowledge Base Extraordinaire !

Eclipses are like well nice. Out of all the events that occur when the moon passes in front of the Sun, Eclipses are my all time favourite !

Look here's one.

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Nice eh ?  Being delivered as a   fancy garden lamp and bug attractor next Tuesday !

The Sun is 400 times the diameter of the moon and by some incredible circumstance is also 400 times farther away !!

Is this a commonality between planets, moons and the sun ? or are we the only planet in the solar system that enjoys solar eclipse fun ?

We also have an incredibly large moon in relation to the Earths size compared to the other planets and their moons ...how come ?


thank ewe



Neil
I love To Moon
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Title: Are We Just Incredibly Lucky to enjoy Solar Eclipses ?
Post by: RD on 14/06/2009 13:36:01
You are forgetting annular eclipses where the apparent sizes of sun and moon (when viewed from Earth) are not the same...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/annular_lg.gif
Title: Are We Just Incredibly Lucky to enjoy Solar Eclipses ?
Post by: Vern on 14/06/2009 13:47:20
I suspect the size relationship between the moon, sun, and earth-moon-sun distance is just luck. Also our present state regarding those distances is just luck. The states are changing.
Title: Are We Just Incredibly Lucky to enjoy Solar Eclipses ?
Post by: neilep on 14/06/2009 14:16:10
You are forgetting annular eclipses where the apparent sizes of sun and moon (when viewed from Earth) are not the same...

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/annular_lg.gif

Gosh !..I never knew of such a thing !

Thanks RD
Title: Are We Just Incredibly Lucky to enjoy Solar Eclipses ?
Post by: neilep on 14/06/2009 14:17:54
I suspect the size relationship between the moon, sun, and earth-moon-sun distance is just luck. Also our present state regarding those distances is just luck. The states are changing.

DOH !! *smakes own forehead* ...ewe are of course absolutely right...I failed to recall that in the early days the moon was a lot closer and in the future it will be further away !

Thanks Vern