Why don't these pieces fit? This third quarter Moon (left) and first quarter Moon were both photographed during the last lunar cycle or lunation [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] with the same telescope and camera. But, simply combining the pictures into one sharp, full surface view [
http://astrosurf.co…] would clearly be a problem. In fact, on October 6th the Moon's third quarter phase happened to occur near lunar apogee [
http://www.fourmila…], the farthest point in the Moon's orbit [
http://www2.jpl.nas…]. On September 21st, the first quarter phase fell close to lunar perigee [
http://www.fourmila…], the Moon's closest approach to planet Earth. Viewed two weeks apart, the resulting difference in apparent sizes would not be noticed by casual skygazers [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…], but the simultaneous side by side comparison makes it hard to ignore. Skygazers will likely notice the Moon [
http://www.shadowan…] next week though, as it slides through Earth's shadow during October 27th's total lunar eclipse [
http://science.nasa…13oct_lunareclipse.h tm ].
Explanation
Why don't these pieces fit? This third quarter Moon (left) and first quarter Moon were both photographed during the last lunar cycle or lunation [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] with the same telescope and camera. But, simply combining the pictures into one sharp, full surface view [
http://astrosurf.co…] would clearly be a problem. In fact, on October 6th the Moon's third quarter phase happened to occur near lunar apogee [
http://www.fourmila…], the farthest point in the Moon's orbit [
http://www2.jpl.nas…]. On September 21st, the first quarter phase fell close to lunar perigee [
http://www.fourmila…], the Moon's closest approach to planet Earth. Viewed two weeks apart, the resulting difference in apparent sizes would not be noticed by casual skygazers [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…], but the simultaneous side by side comparison makes it hard to ignore. Skygazers will likely notice the Moon [
http://www.shadowan…] next week though, as it slides through Earth's shadow during October 27th's total lunar eclipse [
http://science.nasa…13oct_lunareclipse.h tm ].
Explanation
