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From: demillo@uwmacc.UUCP (Rob DeMillo)
Newsgroups: sci.astro
Subject: Re: Moon crater viewing
Message-ID: <394@uwmacc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Oct-86 18:15:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: uwmacc.394
Posted: Tue Oct 21 18:15:27 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Oct-86 06:28:54 EDT
References: <90@ritcv.UUCP>
Reply-To: demillo@uwmacc.UUCP (Rob DeMillo)
Distribution: net.astro
Organization: UWisconsin-Madison Academic Comp Center
Lines: 33

In article <90@ritcv.UUCP> jaw7509@ritcv.UUCP (John White) writes:
>
>	I hate to taunt you all if this is not true, but I seem to
>remember reading that at a certain time, on a certain day, once a year,
>the top edge of a crater on the moon's dark side is visible. If this is
>true and anyone knows about it, (i.e. what day and time), could they
>please pass the info on to me. I've always wanted to see this event, but
>forgot to save the story (if indeed I did read it).
>
>                            Whitey Johnson.

The lunar revolutions are not *exactly* resonant locked with the earth's.
The result is that about an additional 5% of the moon (2.5% on the east
limb, and 2.5% on the west limb) will periodically be shown throughout the
year. Although this is not much, it does allow for certain craters and
mountain ranges to "peep thru" to viewer's on the earth. 

Since the change is, of course, gradually taking place as the year passes,
I doubt that this "mystery crater" *pops* into view on a given night/time.
Although it is entirely possible that an *optimal* day/time was given...

-- 
                           --- Rob DeMillo 
                               Madison Academic Computer Center

	usenet: {ihnp4,harvard,seismo,topaz,decvax}!uwvax!uwmacc!demillo
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