|
 May 27 2009  Crescent Moon |
|
Tonight's crescent moon, visible at sunset on my WNW horizon, was just 3% illuminated and 37 hrs young. It was a real challenge to photograph it through the clouds and even more surprising to see a hint of earthshine revealed by the camera.
Measuring 2,159 miles across its center, Earth's only natural satellite is the fifth largest moon in our solar system. The Moon orbits our planet at an average distance of 238,857 miles, completing a single orbit every 27.3 days. Due to its synchronous rotation, we see only one side of the moon, with 59% being eventually visible due to libration, but never more than 50% being revealed at the moon's fullest illumination.
Image Data: Canon XTi/400d, 3.2sec, ISO-400, f/5.6, 263mm |
| Submitted by: Tavi | Location: Coastal NC, USA | Date: May 25 2009 |
Share AAPOD Del.icio.us |
Digg |
Technorati |
Blinklist |
Furl |
reddit |
Facebook
May 27 2009
Views: 1327
|
|
|
