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Astronomy Picture of the Day 4-19-02
NASA ^ | 4-19-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

Posted on 04/19/2002 5:41:52 AM PDT by petuniasevan

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 April 19
See Explanation.  Clicking on the picture will download
 the highest resolution version available.

The Old Moon in the New Moon's Arms
Credit & Copyright: Laurent Laveder

Explanation: Also known as the Moon's "ashen glow" or "the old Moon in the new Moon's arms", Earthshine is Earthlight reflected from the Moon's night side. This dramatic image of Earthshine and a young crescent Moon was taken by astrophotographer and APOD translator Laurent Laveder from the remote Pic du Midi Observatory on planet Earth. But the view from the Moon would have been stunning too. When the Moon appears in Earth's sky as a slender crescent, a dazzlingly bright, nearly full Earth would be seen from the lunar surface. The Earth's brightness, due to reflected sunlight, is strongly influenced by cloud cover and recent studies of Earthshine indicate that it is more pronounced during April and May. A description of Earthshine, in terms of sunlight reflected by Earth's oceans in turn illuminating the Moon's dark surface, was written 500 years ago by Leonardo da Vinci.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: earth; earthshine; lunar; moon; orbit; phases; satellite; sky
I've noticed that Earthshine seems more pronounced during a waning crescent than during a waxing crescent.
Any theories why this is so?

Get on the APOD PING list!

1 posted on 04/19/2002 5:41:52 AM PDT by petuniasevan
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To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; grlfrnd...
APOD PING!
2 posted on 04/19/2002 5:43:58 AM PDT by petuniasevan
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To: petuniasevan
Thanks, I'd love to be on the APOD ping list.
3 posted on 04/19/2002 5:54:54 AM PDT by Not gonna take it anymore
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To: Not gonna take it anymore
Sure!
4 posted on 04/19/2002 5:59:18 AM PDT by petuniasevan
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To: petuniasevan
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you.

p.s. I always check these pictures, every day, even though I don't always have time to comment on them. Keep 'em coming.:)

5 posted on 04/19/2002 7:01:17 AM PDT by MozartLover
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To: petuniasevan
That would make some great wall paper.
6 posted on 04/19/2002 8:51:04 AM PDT by farmfriend
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To: petuniasevan
Thanks for keeping us on the ping list. I enjoy these daily photos...

:)

7 posted on 04/19/2002 4:19:15 PM PDT by RightlySo
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To: petuniasevan
Spooky, but kewl. I discovered the APOD during the Hale-Bopp days. (About the same time I discovered the Whitewater File on Drudge ('97 I believe)). Still my two favorite sites: APOD and FR. Keep 'em coming.
8 posted on 04/20/2002 2:11:41 AM PDT by leadpenny
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