Comments on: Space Shuttle Plume Shadow Points to Moon

By: poptart

poptart — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:40:27 +0000

The dense exhaust cloud is blocking the sun’s rays and creating a shadow, which just happens to be in line (from that particular perspective) with the moon. What is the great mystery here? My 8-year-old understands what’s going on here…. What’s wrong with you people?

By: me

me — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:37:40 +0000

Doesn’t this have more to do with meteorology than astrophysics? And last time I checked, “students” don’t generally have all the answers.

So you can file your “stamp” under I for Irrelevant.

This is a neat photo, folks. Enjoy it for what it is. The pointless background chatter you are all engaging in is utterly unnecessary. Go debate the Loch Ness Monster or the Kennedy Assassination if you’re actually looking for intrigue.

By: K. Jaffa

K. Jaffa — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 04:01:41 +0000

As a student of astrophysics I can tell you that this is entirely possible, but not plausible. It could have happened but is unlikely it would exist long enough for a photographer to capture it. So there you go, stamped with the possibly unlikely stamp from the physicists.

By: Nobody Special

Nobody Special — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 07:42:52 +0000

It always amazes me how large, intelligent groups of people argue over such insignificant points. Why think so small. Is this progression or regression? It’s a beautiful picture; nothing more; no matter how much we’re all for or against it’s ability to be. Have peace.

By: brad

brad — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:52:28 +0000

why does everyone think it is so ironic that the shadow goes to the moon? Look at the phase of the moon. It indicates that the sun is hitting it from aproximately the other side of the earth. The shadow has no other direction to go.
Also the point about the shadow narrowing in regards to what we expect from experiences with flashlights. In the atmosphere it works quite differently as light is refracted and reflected. We see one light source, but the ambient light will cause narrowing in a shadow. Without ambient light everything in a shadow would be completely dark. Another thing to consider is perspective….the shadow isn’t necessarily narrowing as much as it seems, but at a greater distance appears to be doing so.

By: Justin Ruckman

Justin Ruckman — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:29:04 +0000

Pat: Thanks for stopping by and clarifying, awesome shot.

By: Pat McCracken

Pat McCracken — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:01:44 +0000

What a hoot to read these comments. I took the photo and its real and untouched. If you google “Shuttle Plume” you can find many sites with explanations of the photo. The best explaination was in the Boston Globe - but that site is no longer online.

Regards

By: its real

its real — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:32:10 +0000

explanation for picture:

the shuttle isnt casting the shadow, the sun is setting behind the moon, the “big blue beam” is lack of sunlight to various particles in the air. it just happens to be in line with the shuttle. if it happened to be inline with the earth itself, it would be a solar eclipse.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:26:39 +0000

You think it’s real just because you found it on the NASA website? Weren’t they the dudes that faked the whole moon landing thing in the 60’s?

By: brianless

brianless — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:23:53 +0000

OK. I see it on the NASA site and I’ve read the explanation alongside. I’ve also read the rather interesting, and at times, tiring posts. I have to say that I’d be surprised not only that NASA would publish a photo that was fake (that by no means proves it’s real by the way) but also, why does a smoke trail that isn’t in the slightest bit straight or even straight edged create a perfectly straight shadow? I might be missing something, so I’m open to a credible answer, but if I hold my hand in front of a light (or the sun) it casts a hand-shaped shadow. Why doesn’t the picture show a shadow representing the shape of the smoke trail.

Also, a lot of you guys really need to work on your spelling and grammar. Discussions and debates are a lot clearer if people learn how to use the English language correctly… eats shoots and leaves!!!