Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: mrsmith2211 on 05/03/2017 05:06:25

Title: What does the moon look like for observers on the opposite hemisphere?
Post by: mrsmith2211 on 05/03/2017 05:06:25

So we have a partial moon, here in North America it tonight is on the right, for friends visiting in Guatamala it is on the left, is it on the bottom viewed from the equator? What is it from the north pole and the south pole? Found this, due to perspective because of curvature of the earth?
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthecreatorscalendar.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fchart-hemispherex2.jpg&hash=2e19018d8d27ee15771c22fb838d5156)

Title: Re: Partial moon is opposite in southern hemisphere
Post by: Colin2B on 05/03/2017 08:18:48

Not curvature of the earth, curvature of the moon.
Get a ball in a dark room and shine a very bright light from various sides and you will see this effect. Then imagine how people on different part of earth surface will view the moon - some will be upside down etc.

Title: Re: Partial moon is opposite in southern hemisphere
Post by: evan_au on 05/03/2017 09:57:26

It's a question of where you are facing when you are looking at the Moon. If I remember my compass directions correctly:

A "New" Moon is visible in the West, just after sunset. People in both the northern and southern hemispheres are facing the same direction, and see the lit side of the Moon facing downwards towards the western horizon (no right or left involved)
In the last quarter, the Moon is visible in the East, just before sunrise. People in both the northern and southern hemispheres are facing the same direction, and see the lit side of the Moon facing downwards towards the eastern horizon (no right or left involved)
However, if you look at the Moon when it is at its highest in the sky, people in the northern hemisphere will be facing south, and people in the southern hemisphere will be facing north. Naturally, what one sees as "left", the other will see as "right", since they are facing opposite directions.