Lunar Transit From Stereo - ap070303.html (APOD 3 Mar 2007)

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
cw
Asternaut
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 2:50 am

Lunar Transit From Stereo - ap070303.html (APOD 3 Mar 2007)

Post by cw » Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:13 am

OK, I'm a bit behind in my APOD viewing.

My understanding is:

The Earth orbiting about 93 million miles from the Sun.
The Moon orbiting about ¼ million miles from earth.
Stereo B, also in Solar orbit, trailing the Earth by about a million miles.

Basically, an equilateral triangle, with Earth/Sol forming one long side, Earth/Stereo B forming the base, and Stereo B/Sol the other long side.

I can't imagine any scenario in which a circle with a radius of ¼" scribed about one end of the 1" base of a 93" tall equilateral triangle can come anywhere near, let alone "transit" the opposite side.

What am I missing in how the moon came to be between Stereo B and the Sun?

Cheers,

CW
17:08:47 PDT
Monday, 03-12-2007

cw
Asternaut
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2004 2:50 am

Post by cw » Tue Mar 13, 2007 12:48 am

Should have done more investigation.

Per:

http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/where/

with the date 25-02-07 and time 13:50

the result is a plot of the moon in line between Stereo B and the Sun.

The relevant item being, while Stereo B was about 1 million miles _from_ the Earth, it was only "trailing" the Earth by about 230,500 miles.

Still, barely crossing the line of sight. They should have hung around for a shot of it coming back across, as well ... :wink:

Cheers,

CW
17:45:56 PDT
Monday, 03-12-2007