AST101H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: The Moons, Angular Diameter

• School: UTSG
• Department: Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Course: AST101H1
• Professor: Bryan Gaensler

Document Summary

Only half the moon is illuminated at any one time. The phase changes as the moon orbits the earth. Takes about 28 days for the moon to orbit once. Gets fuller and rises later each day. Gets less full and sets later each day. The moon rotates as it orbits, so the same side always faces the earth. The far side of the moon can never be seen from earth. When aligned right, the moon can cast a shadow on earth (solar eclipse) or the earth can cast a shadow on the moon (lunar eclipse) The angular size of the moon and sun are nearly the same, so the moon almost perfectly covers the sun. If an eclipse happens when the moon is closer to earth in its orbit, the center of the shadow sees a total eclipse.