Jun 25, 2008 10:55 pm US/Central
Good Question: Why Can We See The Moon In Daytime?
(WCCO)
There are some things in life you just know, like the sun comes out during the day and the moon comes out at night. But sometimes we look up and see something that catches us off guard.
That happened to WCCO viewer Nyleen Mulally the past couple mornings so she e-mailed asking why can we see the moon during the day?
Photographer Garrett Young shot video proof of the moon out Wednesday morning. The sun and the moon have been hanging out together in Minnesota skies this week.
Most folks didn't seem to have the low-down on why that's the case.
"It's always there and it's with the rotation of the earth," said one woman out walking.
"Maybe because the moon can't get away fast enough?" guessed another.
"It has to do with how it's turned, how we're turned, how we see it, oh I don't know," the first woman finally conceded.
Professor Larry Rudnick at the University of Minnesota's Department of Astronomy explained that generally it is the sun during the day, and the moon at night, but there are times we see both at the same time.
The moon rotates around the earth every 29-and-a-half days, and as it rotates closest to the sun we're most likely to witness that astronomical double feature. During the day you can see both and during night you can't see either.
We are least likely to see a new moon because the sun is on its opposite side.
"But then as it comes a little further, it starts getting lit up, and I can still see it during the day, now I see it half day, half night, and now I see it just at night," said Rudnick, as he demonstrates with a light bulb, a tiny globe and a golf-tee and ping-pong ball.
That's when we're basking in the glory of a full moon.
"There are times when the moon might just be rising up and the sun just be setting... You could catch it at a magic moment. It's pretty rare and they'll be on opposite sides of the sky," said Rudnick.
However, right now the moon is getting close to its third quarter, it's last phase, and it sets a little after noon, so during most of the morning you can see the moon.
If the sky is clear Thursday morning, you should get another chance to see the moon up with the sun. And if you'd like to read more about the moon and when it's visible, just click here.
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