Copyright 2014 Robert Clark
The full Moon sometimes looks huge when it's low on the horizon. I was
wondering if the same effect would occur on the Moon if we saw a full phase
Earth from the lunar surface.
There haven't been many pictures taken from the surface of the Moon that
show the Earth. Here's one:
The Earth can look pretty large low on the horizon from lunar orbit even
when not at full phase as shown by this Apollo 11 image taken from orbit:
Are there images taken from the lunar surface either by robots or manned
missions that show the Earth rise at or close to full phase?
Nice article by Dr. Pauls Spudis:
Earth Rising.
Earth as seen from the Moon is always in the same place – true or false? It
depends.
By Paul D. Spudis
May 15, 2014
Thus, there are places on the Moon from which we can stand and
contemplate the sheer beauty and magnificence of a slowly rising Earth.
Given the sea change in global perspective provided by the famous Earthrise
picture taken by the Apollo 8 crew almost fifty years ago, what societal
impacts will occur when a human being stands on the lunar surface and
watches the Earth slowly rise above the horizon? I suspect that a similar
shift in planetary perspective will occur. If history is any guide, such a
shift will have profound psychological and political implications – both
positive and negative – in our reach for the stars.
http://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/earth-rising-180951474/#ixzz321FRfV82
I wonder if a Google Lunar X-Prize entrant could land at one of the
locations where Earthrise would be visible.
Bob Clark
