Astrophysicist here: This is caused by the moon developing a crescent shape at each end of the path, resulting in a boomerang-like behavior where the rotational velocity of the moon causes it to return back to where it was thrown.
It's beautiful, but unfortunately a fake. This is from a reddit comment for years ago:
This is supposed to represent a lunar analemma, but it's completely faked. And not just in the sense that it's a composite, in the sense that the relative sizes and positions are completely made up.
No, it actually just appears back on the left side of the path again. No one can explain why, but it almost killed the Apollo guys. Had they been there one day later…
Of course they had to go at an almost full moon. Not much to land on, otherwise.
20 Comments
Chozo@fedia.io · 64 pts · 1y
Astrophysicist here: This is caused by the moon developing a crescent shape at each end of the path, resulting in a boomerang-like behavior where the rotational velocity of the moon causes it to return back to where it was thrown.
nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de · 12 pts · 1y
You spelled Astralphysicist wrong.
wander1236@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 1y
Wait a minute
maegul@lemmy.ml · 8 pts · 1y
Fucking lol!
Akasazh@feddit.nl · 38 pts · 1y
It's beautiful, but unfortunately a fake. This is from a reddit comment for years ago:
This is an actual analemma, with correct scaling:
SuperSleuth@lemm.ee · 10 pts · 1y
Apologies, I am but a humble reposter and didn't check :,-)
Akasazh@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 1y
No worries, I was just checking if it was by the guy that usually shares his setups. But then I found the other thread instead
teft@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 1y
This shape is called an analemma for anyone looking for more info.
Maeve@kbin.earth · 7 pts · 1y
I wonder if that's the inspiration for the infinity symbol?
TheBat@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Zoomboingding@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Thompson actually
teft@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Stone if given the choice.
FrostyTrichs@walledgarden.xyz · 13 pts · 1y
This is beautiful!
Maeve@kbin.earth · 6 pts · 1y
It sure is. I audibly gasped!
damnthefilibuster@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 1y
Does it complete the infinity symbol in the next 28 days?
BennyInc@feddit.org · 11 pts · 1y
No, it actually just appears back on the left side of the path again. No one can explain why, but it almost killed the Apollo guys. Had they been there one day later… Of course they had to go at an almost full moon. Not much to land on, otherwise.
dharmacurious@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 1y
I'd love a real answer to this lol
damnthefilibuster@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Me too!
ayyy@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 1y
hello can I have your house please
moistclump@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 1y
Where’s it goin
BlueEther@no.lastname.nz · 2 pts · 1y
You did something wrong, the moon appears upside down
/s
Great shots though