Got to the "Phase the Nation" chapter. I hadstruggled to understand the phases of the moon and why it doesnt cause eclipse for a long time. All the questions evoked answers that were more confusing than the questions (and there was no google at that time -
). It took a while to figure this out...I wish this chapter was written during my highschool days!
Quoting a line from the book..This is the place where BA (the author - not the book
) is setting up an experiment with a pingpong ball.
Quote:
|
"When it's new, the Moon is between the Sun and Earth. Imagine holding the Moon up so that it lines up with the Sun"
|
I wish BA had not written
..
If they
are in line, the-moon-will-be-blocking-the-sun-and-so-we-have-solar-eclipse confusion is back.
I wish BA had said "almost lines up but slightly below or above" or something to that effect.
I wish there were a line somewhere that indicates that the moon's orbit is at an angle to the ecliptic.
May be i'm making a big deal out of nothing.