Our version of Apollo 8's iconic "Earthrise" photo -- but of the Moon.
It's been a weird "winter" in Eastern Idaho (if you want to call it that). Virtually no snow--and we are now seeing temperature swings in the 70s during the day, and 20s at night.
Last night, Kaden joined me for some astrophotography, as the temperatures started to drop. He kept saying, "Coldness is just a state of mind, Dad," as he bragged that he didn't need the hand warmers I brought, and that he really didn't need to wear socks with his sliders (yes, he did not bring shoes).
As the 30s dropped into the 20s, the cold finally humbled him (bwa ha ha) ... but it got me thinking about temperature swings on the Moon itself, especially since NASA just announced its lofty goal of actual Moon bases by 2030 (woo-hoo!).
While I thought it was "uncomfortable" for Idaho to bounce between the 70s and 20s within a day, the Moon, on the other hand, has daily 500 degree fluctuations. It goes from 250 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 250. Satellites orbiting the Moon have even recorded temperatures as low as minus 400 degrees in certain craters that never see sunlight.
Would you actually "feel" 250 degrees in sunlight on the Moon? Not really... There's no atmosphere. The ground would be 250 degrees, but you wouldn't feel "hot air," just intense sunlight (like standing under a heat lamp). This question is best asked from the comfort of your climate controlled spacesuit because, without it, the vacuum of space would cause your body to swell to twice its normal size, and you'd die within minutes.
It's been a weird "winter" in Eastern Idaho (if you want to call it that). Virtually no snow--and we are now seeing temperature swings in the 70s during the day, and 20s at night.
Last night, Kaden joined me for some astrophotography, as the temperatures started to drop. He kept saying, "Coldness is just a state of mind, Dad," as he bragged that he didn't need the hand warmers I brought, and that he really didn't need to wear socks with his sliders (yes, he did not bring shoes).
As the 30s dropped into the 20s, the cold finally humbled him (bwa ha ha) ... but it got me thinking about temperature swings on the Moon itself, especially since NASA just announced its lofty goal of actual Moon bases by 2030 (woo-hoo!).
While I thought it was "uncomfortable" for Idaho to bounce between the 70s and 20s within a day, the Moon, on the other hand, has daily 500 degree fluctuations. It goes from 250 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 250. Satellites orbiting the Moon have even recorded temperatures as low as minus 400 degrees in certain craters that never see sunlight.
Would you actually "feel" 250 degrees in sunlight on the Moon? Not really... There's no atmosphere. The ground would be 250 degrees, but you wouldn't feel "hot air," just intense sunlight (like standing under a heat lamp). This question is best asked from the comfort of your climate controlled spacesuit because, without it, the vacuum of space would cause your body to swell to twice its normal size, and you'd die within minutes.
