Not to be nit-picking, but the ecliptic is actually defined as the apparent path of the sun, alone against the dome of the sky. the Moon and planets (except for Pluto) are always found within a few degrees of the ecliptic. As I recall, the Moon "wanders" about five degrees either side of the ecliptic, otherwise we would have a solar eclipse every New Moon (and a lunar eclipse every Full Moon). However, I've been known to be wrong (I think once). -----Original Message----- From: Chuck Hards [mailto:chuckhards@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 8:55 AM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Moon Joe: The moon always stays in the ecliptic, like the planets. In winter, the ecliptic is north of the equator, in summer, south. That's why summertime oppositions always find the planets low in the sky. Now, the moon traverses the entire ecliptic every month, but near full it is always opposite the sun. Look at your charts and see where on the ecliptic it happened to be sitting when you noticed it...it will be well north of the equator. I'll give you partial credit for the 'solstice' answer. Chuck --- Joe Bauman <bau@desnews.com> wrote:
This morning my wife noticed that the moon seemed awfully far north when it set. Question for the group: how often does it get this far north? I tried to say it had something to do with the winter solstice, but she pointed out the solstice was several weeks ago. So am I still right, or is there some other odd reason I don't understand? Thanks, Joe
Joe Bauman science & military reporter Deseret News bau@desnews.com (801) 237-2169
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Kim, you ought to know better...we've already beat you to the nit-picky punch! On Friday, January 17, 2003, at 09:19 AM, Kim Hyatt wrote:
Not to be nit-picking, but the ecliptic is actually defined as the apparent path of the sun, alone against the dome of the sky. the Moon and planets (except for Pluto) are always found within a few degrees of the ecliptic.
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Kim Hyatt