The Moon's Surface is not Smooth

Most recent answer: 12/03/2013

Q:
How can we prove that moon surface isn't smooth like mirror and it is opaque? And how past astronomers knew that ? (with basic astronomic tools)
- Ahmad (age 37)
A:

Hello Ahmad,

It's easy, even with a pair of good binoculars.   On earth, you can notice that the shadows of mountains move around during the day due to the angle of the sun with respect to the mountain's edges.  The same thing happens on the moon during different phases of the lunar month.  The shadows of the mountainous craters look different.  The following picture comes from and clearly shows jagged shadows from the moon's craters. 

Of course direct evidence comes from lunar landings of astronauts.

 

LeeH

 

 

 

 


(published on 12/03/2013)