Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!umcp-cs!nbs-amrf!paisley
From: paisley@nbs-amrf.UUCP (Scott Paisley)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: StarDate: October 9 The Milk Dipper
Message-ID: <432@nbs-amrf.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Oct-86 14:00:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: nbs-amrf.432
Posted: Thu Oct 16 14:00:23 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Oct-86 23:26:43 EDT
References: <1319@utastro.UUCP>
Organization: National Bureau of Standards
Lines: 29

> 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