120602 Waxing Crescent Moon
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click image to enlarge
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ASTRO:
type=Planetary (Lunar) mag=-9.0 (appx.) const=(varies) distance=239k mi. size=1,080 mi. dia. IMAGE: illuminatiton=25% WxCr exposure=DSLR OSC: 1x(1/125th)s, f/4.2, ISO400 EQUIPMENT: camera=Nikon D90 (stk) optics=NIKKOR 70-300mm FX zoom @ 300mm filter=(none) mount=simple tripopd guider=(none) SOFTWARE: acquisition=(in-camera) processing=PhotoshopCC |
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The Moon's size is appx 1,080 miles in diameter; comparable to the size of the continent of Australia. Orbiting Earth at an average distance of 238,900 mi or about 30 times Earth's diameter, its gravitational influence very slowly lengthens Earth's day, impacts our monthly weather patterns, and is the main driver of Earth's oceanic tides. Its orbit around Earth has a sidereal period of 27.3 days.
The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, which means that the length of a full rotation of the Moon on its own axis is equal to the length of its revolution around the Earth. As a result, the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. That said, about 59% of the total lunar surface can be seen from Earth through shifts in perspective due to libration (the month-long wagging or wavering of the Moon's position as seen from Earth).
The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, which means that the length of a full rotation of the Moon on its own axis is equal to the length of its revolution around the Earth. As a result, the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. That said, about 59% of the total lunar surface can be seen from Earth through shifts in perspective due to libration (the month-long wagging or wavering of the Moon's position as seen from Earth).