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Astronomy/Sun & Moon Eclipses

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Expert: - 1/13/2010


Question
Moslems are praying during Sun %26 Moon Eclipses! do you think there is a resone for their afraid? if we think about more gravity from the sun and the moon to the earth?

Answer
The gravitational effects of the Sun and Moon on the Earth are the same at every new moon, whether there is an eclipse or not. The only observable effect of the alignment (aside from the possibility of an eclipse) is that the solar and lunar tides align, and we have "spring" tides, which are half again larger than normal. But this occurs at both new moon, when the Moon is in the same direction as the Sun, and at full moon, when the Sun and Moon are in opposite directions. So there is no effect specifically due to the eclipse, save for (if you are lucky) getting to see the Moon in front of the Sun.

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Volunteer

Courtney Seligman

Expertise

I can answer almost any question about astronomy and related sciences, such as physics and geology. I will not answer questions about astrology and similar pseudo-scientific rubbish.

Experience

I have been a professor of astronomy for over 40 years, and am working on an online text/encyclopedia of astronomy.

Publications
Astronomical Journal, Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (too long ago to be really relevant, but you could search for Courtney Seligman on Google Scholar)

Education/Credentials
I received a BA in astronomy and physics and a MA in astronomy, both from UCLA. I was working on my doctoral dissertation when I started teaching, and discovered that I preferred teaching to research.

Awards and Honors
(too long ago to be relevant, but Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi still keep trying to get me to become a paying member)

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