Something that has puzzled me for years

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	Forums > Off-Topic Chat > Something that has puzzled me for years
Andy Edwards Posts: 1660 Joined: 14th Mar 2008 Location: United Kingdom	quotePosted at 19:03 on 25th March 2008 Can anyone out there explain why the moon can be seen through clouds, yet the sun can't!??? You'd think it would be the other way around, with the sun being brighter, but there we are. I've noticed stars can't be seen through them either, so it can't have anything to do with the colour of the sky (or contrasting light and dark) First one to tell me wins a very large bag of crisps.(You choose the flavour)
Sue H. Posts: 3322 Joined: 29th Jun 2007 Location: USA	quotePosted at 19:10 on 25th March 2008 You know when you drive your car at night in the fog, and your headlights reflect back at you (and you can't see the guys headlights behind you either) that is the same effect the sun has on the clouds. The brightness of the sun reflects back on itself when it hits the clouds. The moon, a lesser light, cuts through the clouds and is therefore visible. I will have a large bag of salt and vinegar crisps, thank you .
Andy Edwards Posts: 1660 Joined: 14th Mar 2008 Location: United Kingdom	quotePosted at 19:39 on 25th March 2008 OK. My life is now complete. Thanks a million Sue. The salt 'n' vinegar crisps are as good as yours!
Andy Edwards Posts: 1660 Joined: 14th Mar 2008 Location: United Kingdom	quotePosted at 19:42 on 25th March 2008 Are you sure Sue?
Sue H. Posts: 3322 Joined: 29th Jun 2007 Location: USA	quotePosted at 20:21 on 25th March 2008 No, I'm not sure, but it was a pretty good guess . I have identified one of your Ducks in the Martin Mere section, and that one I can promise you is correct. I've been a birder for over half my life (wow, that sounds scary).
Lyn G Posts: 5530 Joined: 10th Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom	quotePosted at 21:03 on 25th March 2008 I have no idea Andy lol
Peter Evans Posts: 3049 Joined: 20th Aug 2006 Location: United Kingdom	quotePosted at 23:18 on 25th March 2008 Not sure, but it may have something to do with polarized light. Because the suns light is, as all light waves, a vibration, it scatters. The moons light is polarized, only travels in strait lines. That is why the clouds are bright when in front of the sun, due to the scattering, but the moon shines through, and can be vaguely seen. Oh my head aches after thinking that one up. Gotta go get an asprin.
Lyn G Posts: 5530 Joined: 10th Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom	quotePosted at 07:06 on 26th March 2008 Oh my Peter, aint you clever lol
Andy Edwards Posts: 1660 Joined: 14th Mar 2008 Location: United Kingdom	quotePosted at 07:40 on 26th March 2008 But Peter, the light from the moon is reflected sunlight!
poe Posts: 484 Joined: 26th Oct 2003 Location: United Kingdom	quotePosted at 11:23 on 26th March 2008 I'd love to know a definitive answer to this. It's a great question Andy! I'd have thought it's a combination of two things - the intensity and direction of the light, the sun being far far brighter than the moon and radiating light in all directions, whereas the moonlight is being partially polarized as Peter stated, so its light isn't bouncing around in all directions, but it's reflected to us in one direction, coming off the moons surface from the sun and straight towards us, so its sort of more contained. It may also have something to do with what Sue said, the light hitting the water contained in clouds and reflecting off in all directions, and because the suns light is so much brighter, that bouncing light from the cloud drowns out its own outline. Ahh i dunno, hand us one of those tablets Peter