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File talk:Phases of the Moon.png

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If this image is intended to demonstrate the geometry of lunar phases, why is the moon illuminated from a different angle than the Earth? The Earth appears to be illuminated from the top down, while the moon appears to be illuminated from the side. These two scenarios are incompatible, defeating the purpose of using a diagram in the first place.

Bogosity[edit]

Although, as previously noted by an anonymous commenter, earlier versions did not have correct lighting of the Earth (but instead as if sun were +z), Willem's version has exacerbated this problem and introduced others. In the Original diagram the Sun is at the center of the circle the Earth is tracing i.e; +y; in order for the phases to be correct. Willem's version has the Sun at +x. Worse, Willem seems to have interpreted an optical illusion in the original that suggests the Earth's orbit is wavy, when it is not, at least not on the scale suggested by the braided baths traced on the 3rd version of this diagram. --Belg4mit (talk) 20:06, 1 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]