Oh, is that why!
I subscribed to an online Page-A-Day calendar last year, and for Valentine's, they gave me a code to subscribe to one for free this year. So I opted for the Fact or Crap calendar. Browsing January, I got the answer to a puzzlement: Why do you see the whole moon even when it's new? Y'know, you look up, see that bare line of a crescent, but can also make out the rest of the circle, the rest of the moon. Why isn't the dark part completely invisible? Earthshine, that's why. Just like the moon, the Earth reflects sunlight, too - enough to let you make out the whole moon even when it's dark. The strength of the earthshine depends on Earth's cloud cover. I knew the Earth reflected light, like the moon, if not as well; I just never realized that was why a new moon is visible. UPDATE: There was a derailment in the comments; two trains of thought couldn't stay on the same track. My American pop culture references do not extend to TV-series of the 1950...
Comments
Keera - Thanks for including Alice's link. It's a nice way to get to know a little about Alice - who I only know from her comments here.Alice, I hope that you don't mind that I looked at the link Keera so thoughtfully provided. It was delightful! You have some beautiful photos on it and it's set up in a most unusual, to me, fashion. I felt that, though your pictures, I got to know a part of you. A rather nice part, I think. Making your own soap! Was it easy?
Keera - Thanks for including Alice's link. It's a nice way to get to know a little about Alice - who I only know from her comments here.
Ellen
Alice started as a delightful internet acquaintance and became a dear friend. I've even had the pleasure of meeting her in real life. She also inspires me to keep up my blog. :-)
I have more to thank Alice for if she inspires you to keep up your blog. And there's a precedent - we may meet yet. There is always that trip to France. I think it's time to write that email soon.
Ellen