--- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
The moon a planetary body? Is there another planetary . . . Sorry Kurt, I couldn't resist! ;o)
Okay, a solar system body that's still bigger than three or four IAU planets.
BTW, the earthshine this AM was especially strong...I wonder what the earth's cloud-cover percentage was at the time, on the daylight hemisphere?
Earthshine on the Moon is the strongest just before and after new Moon (on the 23rd) - and not just because of the Moon's low illuminated fraction. The reason for this is the Moon is inclined in its orbit at about 6 degs from the Earth's equator. At new Moon and full Moon, the Moon moves crosses the ecliptic plane. Thus, relatively more sunlight reflected off the Earth directly hits the Moon. As we approach the equinoxes, Earthshine also increases because the Earth is crossing the ecliptic at the same time. My own preference is for Earthshine just before the new Moon in the early morning just after the autumnal equinox and just before the spring equinox. Earthshine has the most steely-blue color to it during it's early morning risings. But this occurs each month in the mornings before new Moon. The general public are more familiar with Earthshine a day or so after new Moon, when the Moon is rising in the west after sunset. Most people are awake then and they are more likely to see it. - Kurt __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com