Re: what was the orb

[Franco]

Look at these two pages: http://en.easyart.com/art_prints/prints/Edward_Munch/The_Girls_On_The_Pier_1901-33147.html http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Celestial_Sleuths_Unravel_Munchs_Missing_Moon_Mystery.html Most people would intuitively understand not seeing the orb's reflection if there were a bush 10 feet in front of the viewer (our perspective), because the reflected light coming off the water would be blocked from reaching the eye.  But in this case, the light from the orb is blocked before it ever reaches the water . . . from our viewpoint, anyway.  If you were down at the water's edge, you would probably see the orb reflected in the water, and it has been stated that if your eye were at water level, you would see it for sure.  In this case, "common sense" doesn't hold up because the human mind assumes that the orb should be "above the roof" (below, actually, because the reflection is upside down) in the reflection as well as in the sky.  But it isn't because of the geometry of the situation. I'm assuming that this situation only lasts for a short time.  If it were a bit earlier in the night, the orb would be higher in the sky, and the reflection would show in the water.  If it were a bit later at night, the orb would set behind the house and tree, and wouldn't be visible at all.  That's probably why this scene was chosen for this art piece.  The artist noticed this peculiarity and decided to capture it. I'm also thinking that this situation could be re created on my pond here in Oklahoma, or elsewhere, if I wait until the Moon is near the horizon.  It doesn't seem to me that latitude would affect it all all.  My pond does have an elevated bank.  Does anyone out there with more education and experience agree? AF 95W 35N Oklahoma USA John Foad wrote: I don't know if I am being naive on this, but I don't see any mystery in the lack of a reflection.  The line of sight for a reflection is from the point on the water where the reflection of the top of the roof lies, and from that low point the roof would surely hide the 'orb'? Regards, John. ----- Original Message ----- From: Billy Jack Baxter To: sundial@uni-koeln.de Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2006 10:20 PM Subject: what was the orb There is a very interesting article in the new issue ,May 2006, of Sky& Telescope on the mystery of the orange orb in the painting Girls on the Pier, by Edvard Munch.  Munch, being from Asgardstrand, Norway, the authors go into great detail on whether the orb is either the Moon or the Sun and what time of the year it was and why there was no reflection.  The article reminded me of the correspondence on the shadow mystery on the Numb3r’s TV program that was discussed earlier.   Sincerely Billy Jack Baxter   --------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial --------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial

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