The magnitude of Earth from Moon

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SUMMARY

The magnitude of Earth as viewed from the Moon can be calculated using Pogson's equation and the known magnitudes of the Moon and Sun. The full Earth is approximately -16.8 magnitudes, derived from the full Moon's magnitude of -12.74 and the ashen light's magnitude of -2.74. The calculation involves the ratio of the radii of Earth and Moon, as well as their respective albedos. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding these relationships to accurately determine the brightness of celestial bodies.

PREREQUISITES
  • Pogson's equation for magnitude calculations
  • Understanding of albedo and its impact on brightness
  • Knowledge of celestial magnitudes (e.g., Sun, Moon, Earth)
  • Basic geometry related to ratios of radii
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the application of Pogson's equation in astrophysics
  • Study the concept of albedo and its measurement techniques
  • Explore the relationship between distance and apparent brightness in astronomy
  • Investigate methods for measuring celestial magnitudes in different conditions
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysics students, and anyone interested in celestial observations and calculations related to brightness and magnitude of celestial bodies.

Numeriprimi
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Hello,
I was wondering that I'm a astronaut on Moon and I thought about a one question...
If I look at the Earth (in "full moon") from the Moon, what magnitude will have the Earth? Ok, I know some typical values that the magnitude of Moon from Earth is -13 mag and the magnitude of Sun from Earth is -25 mag. However, the magnitude of Earth from Moon I don't know. Can I determine it from this values? The Pogson's equation is best for it, but how...?

Thank you very much and sorry for my bad English.
 
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Full Earth, or full Moon and therefore new Earth?
Full Earth is 43 times brighter than full Moon. No, you cannot derive that from the magnitudes of Moon and Sun. But now you can apply Pogson´s equation.
 
Hmm, however, how do you know that the full Earth is 43 times brigter than full Moon?
 
No. One more question. Can I determine the magnitude of Earth on Moon, if I will be know magnitude of ashen lights by Moon and Earth?
 
Numeriprimi said:
Hmm, however, how do you know that the full Earth is 43 times brigter than full Moon?
Using the difference in radii, you need to calculate how much larger the area of the Earth is than that of the Moon as seen from the same distance, and multiply the result by the difference in reflectivity(albedo). All values can be found on wikipedia.
 
Numeriprimi said:
No. One more question. Can I determine the magnitude of Earth on Moon, if I will be know magnitude of ashen lights by Moon and Earth?

Yes.
 
Yes, the first soulution I know. I can say that: (r_2/r_1)^2 * A_1/A_2 = I_1/I_2 ... And than I can numericated the magnitude of Earth from Moon by Pogson's equation.
However, what with the ashen lights? How can I numericate the magnitude of Earth on Moon by this? I really don't know.
 
Numeriprimi said:
Yes, the first soulution I know. I can say that: (r_2/r_1)^2 * A_1/A_2 = I_1/I_2 ... And than I can numericated the magnitude of Earth from Moon by Pogson's equation.
However, what with the ashen lights? How can I numericate the magnitude of Earth on Moon by this? I really don't know.

Say that you measure the magnitude of full Moon as -12,74, and also measure the magnitude of ashen light as -2,74. Either way, you are observing from the same distance light reflected by Moon straight back towards the source of light. If ashen light, lit by full Earth, is 10,0 magnitudes dimmer than full Moon, lit by Sun, you can conclude that full Earth also is 10,0 magnitudes dimmer than Sun. So measuring magnitude of Sun as -26,8, you can deduce the magnitude of full Earth is -16,8.

As for the solution with albedo: you need to measure that albedo.
 
Ok, I understand. Thank you very much! Hmm...

And if I will know the magnitude of full Earth and full Moon and the ratio between radius of Earth and radius of Moon, I can determine the radius betwenn albedo of Earth and albedo of Moon, yeah?

2,5 log ((r_E/r_M)^2 * A_E/A_M) = 2,5 log I_E/I_M = m_M - m_E
... so, the albedo ratio is 3, right?
 
Last edited:
  • #10
one more question... is also any way, how to determine the ashen light of Earth? no light of buildings etc., only the ashen light like on Moon.
 
  • #11
Numeriprimi said:
one more question... is also any way, how to determine the ashen light of Earth? no light of buildings etc., only the ashen light like on Moon.

What do you mean as ashen light?
Moonlit ground?
 
  • #12
I'm standing on Earth and watching on the Moon (-13 mag) - I'm seeing the ashen light of Moon (-3 mag).

opposite situation:
I'm standing on Moon and watching on the Earth (-16 mag, no lighting by people) - I'm seeing the ashen light of Earth. How can I determine the magnitude of ashen light by Earth? (for example, in the situation just before when the Earth comes to ,,new moon" and the Moon is on full moon)
 
Last edited:
  • #13
Numeriprimi said:
I'm standing on Earth and watching on the Moon (-13 mag) - I'm seeing the ashen light of Moon (-3 mag).

opposite situation:
I'm standing on Moon and watching on the Earth (-16 mag, no lighting by people) - I'm seeing the ashen light of Earth. How can I determine the magnitude of ashen light by Earth?

It is equal to the magnitude of ashen light of Moon.
 
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  • #14
Yeah, I calculated it :-) Thank you very much, it is everything.
 

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