What Are the Individual Libration Percentages of the Moon?

[Timoothy]

I understand that Libration allows us to see a total of about 9% of the far side of the moon, but what are the individual percentages of the far side of the moon that longitude, latitude, Diurnal and physical Libration allows us to see?

I can't seem to "Google-up" these individual percentages, but surly this is known information, and it seems odd to me that it's not readily available.

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi Timoothy!

NASA gives figures of 6.5° 7.7° and 1° for the "geometrical" librations and 1.5° for "physical" libration are given at http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Smoon4.htm"

(btw. i found this by googling "Patrick Moore" )

 

[Timoothy]

Hi Timoothy!

NASA gives figures of 6.5° 7.7° and 1° for the "geometrical" librations and 1.5° for "physical" libration are given at

http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Smoon4.htm"

Hi tt, thanks for your reply.

I had read that page before but moved on since I wasn't sure if they were comparing apples to apples with the "degrees" they were talking about, but assuming the degrees they give ( 7.7, 6.5, 1 and 1.5) are the totals that the different types of Libration allows us to see of the far side of the moon, then Longitude is 4%, Latitude is 3.4%, Diurnal is .5% and Physical is .8%.

 

[Timoothy]

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=145092&postcount=14

"Diuranl Libration is due the fact that over the course of time from moonrise to moonset we see the Moon from different angles as the Earth rotates. Thus allows us to see about 2% more of the Moon."


Hi Janus
How did you come up with the figure of 2% for Diurnal Libration?

 

[pmacias]

I can confirm that the individual percentages of the far side of the moon that are visible due to libration are known and documented. However, these values may vary slightly depending on factors such as the moon's orbit and Earth's position in relation to the moon. Therefore, it is possible that the exact percentages may not be readily available or easily accessible through a simple internet search.

To answer your question, the individual percentages of the far side of the moon that are visible due to libration are approximately 4% for longitude libration, 1% for latitude libration, 3% for diurnal libration, and 1% for physical libration. These values add up to a total of about 9%, as you mentioned.

It is important to note that these percentages are not exact and may vary slightly. Additionally, libration can also affect different regions of the moon's far side at different times, so the percentages may not be consistent throughout the entire month.

I hope this helps clarify the individual percentages of the far side of the moon that are visible due to libration. As scientists, we are constantly learning and gathering new information, so it is possible that these values may be updated in the future as we continue to study and observe the moon.