NationStates Jolt Archive

It is really freaking bright tonight. You could drive around without your lights on. Is the moon projecting light from Earth back to us? Did some huge supernova reach us a few hours ago? Is the world going to end? Should I begin hoarding Bibles? Will all these questions and more be answered tomorrow? Tune in and find out.

This thread piqued my curiousity, as I've spent the last few nights cracking out on astronomy related articles on wikipedia. Unfortunately I can't answer your question, but I would guess it has something to do with the fact that the moon is nearly full. I've seen it this bright before, but not very often.

And, as a sidenote, if I ever get to see a supernova I will die a happy man. I've had my eye on Betelgeuse and Aldeberan for years. Anyone else know of any other visible stars that might go nova within our lifetime?

I'm sure it has something to do with the moonlight hitting Earth's atmosphere. Then again, it could be some kind of signal for an alien invasion so maybe you should have your shotgun ready. ;)

It's just high is all. I've seen it like this many times. I like it, looks cool.

I know, what is up with the moon? Probably a bunch of rocks and dust. You know what we should do? We should replace the moon with a giant banana. Wouldn't that be awesome? Just a giant, yellow banana hangin' out. In space. With the dust. And martians. And Ralph Nader. And God.

Wait, Ralph Nader is still alive...

Here in Australia, on a kids TV show a girl of 12-13 recounted how when she and her friend where looking at the night sky on a telescope she saw a star going nova. The girl was looking at the moon when her friend accidentally knocked the scope out of its position and as she looked again in the viewfinder she saw a star explode in the darkness. I dont know if its true or not but its a nice story nonetheless :D

...I noticed it too.

I used it as an excuse to look at porn.

If you saw the same thing I saw, it's called a lunar halo, and is caused when moonlight is refracted by ice crystals in the upper thermosphere. Looks pretty neat.

Here in Australia, on a kids TV show a girl of 12-13 recounted how when she and her friend where looking at the night sky on a telescope she saw a star going nova. The girl was looking at the moon when her friend accidentally knocked the scope out of its position and as she looked again in the viewfinder she saw a star explode in the darkness. I dont know if its true or not but its a nice story nonetheless :D
I would tend to guess it's not. To my knowledge, the last nova witnessed by humanity was the 1987A Supernova (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova_1987A). Unless the program was referring to this particular stellar explosion, the story is very likely a fabrication.

...I noticed it too.

I used it as an excuse to look at porn.
I used it as an excuse to listen to more Dire Straits.

I would tend to guess it's not. To my knowledge, the last nova witnessed by humanity was the 1987A Supernova (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernova_1987A). Unless the program was referring to this particular stellar explosion, the story is very likely a fabrication.

Actually there have been quite a few novae over the years. There's a difference between novae and supernovae. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova

As for the story, novae usually last weeks or days, so I doubt the girl saw one. Though I wouldn't entirely discount it as a fabrication. It's possible they saw something like a bright meteor and simply mistook it for a star.

Actually there have been quite a few novae over the years. There's a difference between novae and supernovae. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova.

Dude, think about this for a second. If I linked to a wiki article about a supernovae doesn't it stand to reason that I probably read the article about novae too? I'm aware of the difference, but I've been unable to find a list of them save for in the supernova article. That's why I said "to my knowledge."

If you have found another list somewhere, I'd love to see it. I've been looking for a more comprehensive list.

EDIT: now that I read the article, I guess I hadn't seen it before. I guess I spent so much time "cracking out" on astrology shit that I forgot which articles I looked at and which ones I haven't! :eek:

**removes foot from mouth**

It's one of those times (not so rare) when the moon is full at its closest to the Earth. That's why it looks so bright. It's absolutely gorgeous.

It's one of those times (not so rare) when the moon is full at its closest to the Earth. That's why it looks so bright. It's absolutely gorgeous.
I love the moon. It hypnotizes me. The sun is its evil twin. A part of me will always believe that despite common poetic representations and my own knowledge of astronomy.

yea, the moon is so friggin bright last night.

Anyone find where US landed on the moon last night? :D

Damn. I just noticed the same thing.. I just rented a few movies (Kung Fu Hustle was cool), and watched two of them, and looking outside I thought "damn, the sun can't be up already.. how long were these movies?" Then I saw it was only 1 O'clock.. that's one bright moon.

It's going to be even brighter tonight when its totally full :D

Anybody else get the feeling that it's the dawning of our civilization and that war and revolution is just around the corner? Or is it just me? Looking at that moon that is the feeling I get, that we are in the calm before the storm.

Right now it's 5:17am and it's so nice otuside I thought the sun had been out for a couple hours (Impossible I know). Nope, ripping through black clouds I could see the moon there.

<Sigh> I love the moon.

Didn't notice it. I never notice anything to do with the moon.

its one of the faults with the moon's original design. unfortunately after a million billion years the cheese became radioactive, and the moon started to glow. the only way we can stop the radiation wiping out life on earth is to put a huge cream cracker in orbit between the earth and the moon, but seeing as nasa cant be bothered......



the english kid

The moon, you say? I just enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to use my brights while driving to work. *shrug*

I have no idea but I was just outside a minute ago and I remarked on it too, just before logging on. My roommate mentioned it too. There is no lunar halo visible from Vancouver (at least no halo that extends beyond the disk itself) but I guess it could be ice in the upper atmosphere. I remember thinking it almost looks as though the moon has been washed recently, or polished.

*has another drink*

Yeah I've noticed that for the past 2 nights as well. But as I don't know the answer I'll just sit here thinking its pretty :D

What up with the moon? Um... satalites... space junk... little astroids... the top secret Star Wars defence system...

I've noticed it too.

Around three weeks ago I saw the moon like none other I've seen. Driving around in a car at 3am my friends and I (we live in the highest area of London), found a great place to look at the moon.

It was bigger than I've ever seen, and orange/red in colour. It was such a beautiful sight, it's a shame I didn't have my camera with me.

the moon is not real!

http://www.revisionism.nl/Moon/The-Mad-Revisionist.htm

It is really freaking bright tonight. ...

I noticed that too. It basically lit up my apartment last night. Was kinda nice tho...

Funny, I noticed this too. A student and I finished making approaches at a airport south of here and we started home. Halfway home the overcast began breaking up and the moon came out. It looked as if it was daytime out! Well, I guess it will make tonight's nightflight interesting.