:: If a planet has multiple moons, all large enough to be visible, as
:: discs, from the surface (through the atmosphere), i.e. unlike the
:: moons of Mars, will they all be in the same phase at the same time,
:: i.e. full, waning, new, waxing?
: Raghar <RagharA2@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
: Yes.
"Can they *ever* be in the same phase at the same time", yes.
"Are they necessarily *always* in the same phase at the same time", no.
: they'd be in the same phase once per period of the faster moon
Right. Approximately, assuming the fastermoon is
quite a bit faster. In other words, most of the time, no.
Imagine an object with a visible disk in the earth-moon L4 (or... L5,
whichever fits this scenario). Assume it's mightnight, and the moon is
just settinng. It will be a waxing half-moon. The object at L4 (or 5,
whichever) is high in the sky (about 60 degrees up from rising), and will
be waning-nearly-full. In other words, *not* the same phase.
Indeed, *never* in the same phase.
Wayne Throop throopw@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://sheol.org/throopw
|
