The Grey Labyrinth is a collection of puzzles, riddles, mind games, paradoxes and other intellectually challenging diversions. Related topics: puzzle games, logic puzzles, lateral thinking puzzles, philosophy, mind benders, brain teasers, word problems, conundrums, 3d puzzles, spatial reasoning, intelligence tests, mathematical diversions, paradoxes, physics problems, reasoning, math, science.

Amb · Amb the Hitched.

In August, I had the pleasure of watching the Luna Rossa - or Lunar Eclipse. The moon turned nicely and fully red. A friend and I talked about it yesterday. In his house he possesses a large telescope, with which he watched it all unfold.

He claims that, on watching the moon in this state, he saw the reflection of the earth on the moon. Not entirely because the 'reflection' was larger than the moon itself. He claims to have seen the gulf of america outlined on the moon through his telescope.

I think he is making this up. His wife insists that they are not. This is unusual because while he would try to fool me with mumbo jumbo, his wife would not.

So is it possible? (Ignoring any chance that he is simply mistaken)

Samadhi · +1

I don't think it's possible. Sure the moon is dark during an eclipse....and maybe, maybe an uneven globe would reflect an image discernible at huge distances, but the side of the earth that you would see would be even darker.
_________________
And he lived happily ever after. Except for the dieing at the end and the heartbreak in between.

Amb · Amb the Hitched.

Thats what I thought too. I just don't want to argue with the guy until I have facts to back me up.

Samadhi · +1

When I said "I don't think it's possible" I meant "there's no fucking way, but I'll speak in scientific terms"
_________________
And he lived happily ever after. Except for the dieing at the end and the heartbreak in between.

jesternl · Yankee Doodle Dutchie

Impossible.

In order for a side of the earth to reflect on the moon, there has to be a lightsource illuminating the object to be reflected. That source would be the sun, but by the definition of an eclipse that light source is on the other side of the earth.

Quailman · His Postmajesty

You're forgetting that light can penetrate water but not rock. The light from the Sun reaches the Earth - the side facing it - and where there's continents and islands and stuff, it is blocked. Where there's oceans and bays, it can shine through. What you see on the Moon is the shadow of the land that's facing the Sun - not what's facing the Moon at the time.

Your friend claims to have seen the Gulf of America, which is impossible since there is no such place. If he meant the Gulf of Mexico, well, he may well have seen that, since it would be facing towards the Sun while New Zealand was facing the Moon.

BraveHat · Last of the Daedalians

I miss Luna

Coyote · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:09 pm Post subject: 8

Maybe you can see her again when there's no room upon the hill.

And on topic, yeah, I think your friend was just experiencing pareidolia.

Amb · Amb the Hitched.

Thanks Quailman. I shall be sure to quote that to him knowledgably, so that I don't look an idiot any longer...

Lepton* · Guest

Quailman · His Postmajesty

Beartalon · 'Party line' kind of guy

Hm, Quailman, I forget. I guess my mind is tabula Rossa.

Amb · Amb the Hitched.

Lepton, Quailman was making a joke, by saying the continents and islands are rock, and the rest of the planet is translucent water. This would mean if you could hold your breath long enough, you could swim directly and literally down (and then up) to New Zealand. He was fighting my friends mumbo jumbo with even better mumbo.

Revenge most foul!

Chuck · Daedalian Member

Well, obviously the light reflected from the earth's surface is sent back into the solar wind, heating parts of it differently depending on whether land or water is reflecting the light. Then the earth's gravitational field bends the solar wind, focusing it on the moon during a lunar eclipse. That's what forms the images of the continents on the moon's surface.