The moon....

[Mich]

Ok when i joined i said i was very intrested in astronomy i just don't understand most of it.

So i've got a question about the moon, although this might just be stupid....

How come, Even on completely clear nights, the moon isn't always visible? I know where to look at certain times etc, i just don't get how it can't be there when its constantly going round the earth, probably a dumb thing to ask but it's been bugging me for the last 2 days

[Qualia]

I don't think that is a dumb question, Mich, but rather than answer it, why don't you download Stellarium for free and put it into watch the moon travel over a month or two.

[Peter Drew]

Mich.

Although you see the Moon rise in the East and set in the West it actually orbits in the opposite direction against the star background. This orbit takes around 28 days so on each consecutive night the Moon will rise later.

[TheNorthernMonkey]

Sometimes the moon is on the same side of the earth as the sun. It's difficult to see when this occurs, so if the moon and the sun are on the same side, you wont be able to see either if you are on the other side.

[Mich]

Righto cheers lads!

Just downloaded the stellarium app. that is one impressive app! cheers for pointing that one out

[Qualia]

Often helps an image:

[4lefts]

I don't think that is a dumb question, Mich, but rather than answer it, why don't you download Stellarium for free and put it into watch the moon travel over a month or two.

what he said. give a man a fish, and all that.

[brantuk]

I find it particularly fascinating when the moon and the sun appear in the sky at the same time during daylight. Even though I understand why, it still seems curiously odd lol. Not a daft question at all

[Naemeth]

A new Moon, or fairly new Moon has a high magnitude of about -1.0 (I think....), so is much darker than a full Moon (about -12.74).

[Darkstar_1]

what he said. give a man a fish, and all that.

Give a man a fish you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and he spends all day sat in his boat drinking beer. :grin:

[JamesF]

Give a man a fish you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and he spends all day sat in his boat drinking beer. :grin:

A plan with no drawbacks I like that.

James

[4lefts]

fortunately for those of us who can't fish, but don't absolutely need a boat in order to buy beer. though i expect it makes it better.