What Are the Individual Libration Percentages of the Moon?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Timoothy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Moon
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the individual percentages of the Moon's far side visible due to various types of libration: Longitude, Latitude, Diurnal, and Physical. According to NASA, the geometrical librations are 6.5° for Longitude, 7.7° for Latitude, and 1° for Diurnal, while Physical libration accounts for 1.5°. The calculated visibility percentages are 4% for Longitude, 3.4% for Latitude, 0.5% for Diurnal, and 0.8% for Physical libration. This results in a total of approximately 9% of the far side of the Moon being observable.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of lunar libration concepts
  • Familiarity with astronomical measurements (degrees)
  • Basic knowledge of the Moon's orbit and visibility
  • Access to NASA resources for astronomical data
NEXT STEPS
  • Research "Lunar Libration" on NASA's website for detailed explanations
  • Explore "Geometrical Libration" and its impact on lunar visibility
  • Investigate the effects of "Diurnal Libration" on lunar observation
  • Study the relationship between lunar phases and libration visibility
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, educators, and students interested in lunar observation and the mechanics of lunar libration.

Timoothy
Messages
33
Reaction score
0
I understand that Libration allows us to see a total of about 9% of the far side of the moon, but what are the individual percentages of the far side of the moon that longitude, latitude, Diurnal and physical Libration allows us to see?

I can't seem to "Google-up" these individual percentages, but surly this is known information, and it seems odd to me that it's not readily available.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Hi Timoothy! :smile:

NASA gives figures of 6.5° 7.7° and 1° for the "geometrical" librations and 1.5° for "physical" libration are given at http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Smoon4.htm" :wink:

(btw. i found this by googling "Patrick Moore" :biggrin:)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
tiny-tim said:
Hi Timoothy! :smile:

NASA gives figures of 6.5° 7.7° and 1° for the "geometrical" librations and 1.5° for "physical" libration are given at

http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Smoon4.htm"

Hi tt, thanks for your reply.

I had read that page before but moved on since I wasn't sure if they were comparing apples to apples with the "degrees" they were talking about, but assuming the degrees they give ( 7.7, 6.5, 1 and 1.5) are the totals that the different types of Libration allows us to see of the far side of the moon, then Longitude is 4%, Latitude is 3.4%, Diurnal is .5% and Physical is .8%.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=145092&postcount=14

"Diuranl Libration is due the fact that over the course of time from moonrise to moonset we see the Moon from different angles as the Earth rotates. Thus allows us to see about 2% more of the Moon."


Hi Janus
How did you come up with the figure of 2% for Diurnal Libration?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
10K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
18K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
6K