4
$\begingroup$

enter image description here

source

Why is east and west reversed for the moon? Why does north and south remain the same?

Please explain like I'm five.

$\endgroup$
1
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ I guess, it is rather simple as if two people are standing face to face and looking at each other: My right side for you on your left and vice versa. $\endgroup$
    – B--rian
    Commented Jan 28, 2021 at 9:40

1 Answer 1

7
$\begingroup$

Imagine you're lying down outside, looking up at the sky, with your body aligned so your head is pointing North, and your Feet are pointing South. If you look to your Left, you'll be looking East, and see the East part of the ground and sky. If you look to your right, you'll be looking West, and see the West part of the ground and sky.

Now imagine a friend holds a globe above your head, centered on your home city, with the north pole pointing North, and the South pole pointing South.

When you look at your country on that globe, the parts East of your city will be on the right side of the globe, and the points west of it will be on the left side of the globe.

The same thing happens with the Moon. When you're standing on the Earth, looking up at the Moon near the meridian, from the Northern Hemisphere (so it appears generally south of you), The parts of the Moon that are Lunar-Surface-East of the Moon's center will appear on the right side, and the parts of the Moon that are Lunar-Surface-West will appear on the Left.

$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .