Moon News  
Earthshine Reflects Earth's Oceans And Continents From Dark Side Of Moon

This is the first study in the world to use the reflection of the Earth to measure the effect of continents and oceans on the apparent brightness of a planet. Other studies have used a colour spectrum and infrared sensors to identify vegetation, or for climate monitoring.
by Staff Writers
Melbourne, Australia (SPX) Apr 08, 2009
Researchers from the University of Melbourne and Princeton University have shown for the first time that the difference in reflection of light from the Earth's land masses and oceans can be seen on the dark side of the moon, a phenomenon known as earthshine.

The paper is published in this week's edition of the international journal Astrobiology.

Sally Langford from the University of Melbourne's School of Physics who conducted the study as part of her PhD, says that the brightness of the reflected earthshine varied as the Earth rotated, revealing the difference between the intense mirror-like reflections of the ocean compared to the dimmer land.

"In the future, astronomers hope to find planets like the Earth around other stars. However these planets will be too small to allow an image to be made of their surface," she said.

"We can use earthshine, together with our knowledge of the Earth's surface to help interpret the physical make up of new planets."

This is the first study in the world to use the reflection of the Earth to measure the effect of continents and oceans on the apparent brightness of a planet. Other studies have used a colour spectrum and infrared sensors to identify vegetation, or for climate monitoring.

The three year study involved taking images of the Moon to measure the earth's brightness as it rotated, allowing Ms Langford to detect the difference in signal from land and water.

Observations of the Moon were made from Mount Macedon in Victoria, for around three days each month when the Moon was rising or setting. The study was conducted so that in the evening, when the Moon was a waxing crescent, the reflected earthshine originated from Indian Ocean and Africa's east coast. In the morning, when the Moon was a waning crescent - it originated only from the Pacific Ocean.

"When we observe earthshine from the Moon in the early evening we see the bright reflection from the Indian Ocean, then as the Earth rotates the continent of Africa blocks this reflection, and the Moon becomes darker," Ms Langford said.

"If we find Earth sized planets and watch their brightness as they rotate, we will be able to assess properties like the existence of land and oceans."

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
University of Melbourne
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


NASA Names 16th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race Winners
Huntsville AL (SPX) Apr 07, 2009
NASA this weekend named its "off-world racing" champions in the 16th annual Great Moonbuggy Race: Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. won the college division; and Erie High School Team 2 from Erie, Kan., and Huntsville Center for Technology Team 2 from Huntsville, Ala., tied for first place in the high school division.







  • Two-time space tourist returns to Earth
  • China says NKorea has right to peaceful use of space
  • NASA inspector general resigns
  • Security Up, Movements Restricted For Top ISRO Scientists

  • Opportunity Brushing and Examining an Outcrop
  • Spirit Sets Distance Record For Five-Wheel Driving
  • Russia locks up six for Mars experiment
  • Russian-European Crew Starts Mars Mission

  • Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2
  • Nuclear Power In Space
  • Outside View: Nuclear future in space

  • Hubble Finds Hidden Exoplanet In Archival Data
  • ISS Spacewalkers Test Planetary Protection Concept
  • Finding Twin Earths Is Harder Than We Thought
  • Starlight, Star Bright

  • Carbon Nanotubes Are Superior To Metals For Electronics
  • No Small Measure: Origins Of Nanorod Diameter Discovered
  • Chemists Create Two-Armed Nanorobotic Device
  • Scientists Prove Graphene's Edge Structure Affects Electronic Properties

  • Space missions focus on salmonella
  • Station Astronauts Lose Alarming Amounts Of Hipbone Strength
  • Manipulating Salmonella In Spaceflight Curtails Infectiousness
  • USRA Division Of Space Life Sciences Celebrates 25th Anniversary

  • Europe sets May 6 for launch of Herschel, Planck telescopes
  • Russian launcher puts European telecoms satellite in orbit
  • Herschel And Planck Launch Update
  • Russia Urges North Korea To Show Restraint In Rocket Launch

  • Analysis: China reveals new super rocket
  • NKorea releases footage of rocket launch
  • Pratt And Whitney Rocketdyne Tests Propulsion Technology
  • GOCE's Electric Ion Propulsion Engine Switched On

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement