moon

[pipit1]

my brother in australia tells me that in a clear blue sky
he can see the sun and the moon,but the moon has
a shadow of the earth...how can this be
what is the explanation

[mibn2cweus]

Theoretically, from a high enough elevation and with unobstructed horizons it is possible to see both the rising/setting Sun opposite the Moon during a Lunar Eclipse (Earth between Sun and Moon) due to the refractive nature of the atmosphere provided you are
in the right place at the right time

[pipit1]

thanks for the reply,however it doesn't explain the fact
that the earth is not between the sun and moon
and no lunar eclipse
so how is it when at mid day one can see both the sun
and moon with the shadow of the earth on the moon
the observation was at sea level, very streange ?

[jake-the-peg]

I think your brother may be a little confused.

Some people are under the misapprehension that when the moon is half full, the shadow is due to the shadow of the earth which of course is not the case.

There is an effect where some features of the moon in shade are visble on the Earth due to light being reflected from the Earth onto the moon and being seen on the Earh. - This is known as Earthshine

See here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthshine

[Dagman]

It'll be the Moon's own shadow. You see the same as him!

[gen2]

A new moon will be close to the sun and only a very small part of its sunlit surface will be visible. The remaining shadowed sector of the moon will be illuminated bu sunlight reflected from the Earth (as indicated in other posts above). The purpose of this post is to say that seeing this was supposed to portend some disaster. It was also poetically referrred to as:
"The old moon with the new moon in its arms"

Most older generation Scots will remember learning this at school as part of "The Ballad of Sir Patrick Spens", part of which got the rock treatment by Dave Swarbrick with 'Fairport Convention'.

[pipit1]

jake-the-peg
Many thanks for your reply,have looked up earthshine
in a reference book.and am now satisfied with your
explanation. it's been bugging me for some time
until a friend recomended this web site,it's brilliant
once again many thanks
pipit1