paisley@nbs-amrf.UUCP (Scott Paisley) (10/16/86)
> The milk dipper -- after this. > > October 9 The Milk Dipper > > Tonight the moon is near first quarter. It looks nearly half > illuminated in our sky. This moon is called a quarter, and not a half, ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ > because it's one quarter of the way around in its monthly orbit of > Earth, as measured from new moon to new moon. Also, when you think ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > about it, you'll realize that the part of the moon that looks half > illuminated in our sky is really only a quarter of the whole round > globe of the moon. Another lighted quarter shines just as brightly in > the direction of space opposite our planet Earth. Although I am not an expert on heavenly bodies, It would seem to me that a full moon would be actually be called a half moon. Because it is half way through it's orbit around the earth, (from new moon to new moon) Is this an inconsistancy, or am I missing something? -- -Scott "There is no dark side of the moon really, as a matter of fact, it's all dark." UUCP: {seismo,umcp-cs}!nbs-amrf!paisley BITNET: scott@umbc VOICE: (301) 253-5295 USNAIL: 20 Clearwater CT, Damascus, MD 20872