Re: SV: Calculating magnitudes - was [Re: Binoculars & Mag]

JMason001@aol.com
Sat, 17 Oct 1998 12:25:29 EDT

In a message dated 98-10-15 22:44:51 EDT, you write:

<< If full moon is -12.8, it needs rm = -24.9, which gives an albedo of 0.25!
 Half moon would be -12.0, and one day moon (ph=12 d) -7.8.
 Something does not quite right there.
  >>

The moon is covered with fine dust, which strongly reflects back toward the
light source instead of scattering light in all directions.  As a result, the
full moon is 12 times brighter than the half moon.

Jim Mason