I got up around 4:30 a.m. for some water and found this shining in through the windows. Quite brightly, I might add! I was going to write a post about how cool it is that everyone on Earth sees the moon in exactly the same way, but apparently that's not quite true -- at least according to the highly authoritative website Primary Homework Help. In the Southern Hemisphere, people see the moon "upside down," at least relative to how we see it here.
If I ever learned that in school, I've forgotten it now. I'm not sure I understand why it's true, either, but thinking about it too much makes my head hurt.
I did finally get the lawn mowed yesterday, so that was my major accomplishment (besides going to work and earning a living). I mowed the area in the back that we've been leaving to grow all summer. I think whatever insects may have lived there are on their way out by now, and the Heath and other parks generally mow around this time, so I felt safe doing it. I left a couple of clumps of ragwort for next year.
I came across this on my way home a few days ago. It's apparently a brand of toilet paper! I think that name is what the British would call "cheeky."
Ha ha! I’ve seen “who gives a crap” advertised online. I was tempted to buy it just for the name. I caught the moon around midnight, and SG and I had the same discussion about how the whole world sees the moon in the same way. Such scientific minds... I’m not even going to try to ponder the upside-down moon. For me, that’s like trying understand the counter-clockwise toilet flushes.
ReplyDeleteThe Southern Hemisphere sounds like a very weird place. LOL
DeleteI have used "Who gives a crap" toilet paper myself. I found it effective and sufficiently soft upon my nether regions. If pressed, I will be happy to supply photographs to endorse this product.
ReplyDeleteI'll take your word for it!!!!
DeleteThe moon shines through our kitchen window and has indeed been very bright this week. I suppose people in the Southern hemisphere are upside down to us anyway, so that is the explanation I will give myself! Love the toilet paper packaging.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think that's basically it. If the moon orbits the Earth basically at the equator, then we're looking down at it and Australians and Argentinians are looking up -- right?
DeleteI wonder.
ReplyDeleteJust another of life's little mysteries to ponder.
DeleteI remember when I was in grade school, a girl in my class kept insisting to the teacher that people in Australia walk upside down on the earth, and how was that possible. Everyone in class thought she was insane, and the teacher was utterly frustrated by her refusal to let the matter drop. But she never explained the concept of gravity to my inquisitive classmate, the idea that gravity kept our feet rooted to the earth and allowed our senses to process our orientation as right side up. I've always remembered and admired that girl, Joanne Mafood, I still recall her name. I loved that she thought more deeply about things the rest of us took for granted, and stubbornly searched for answers, because really, if you're looking at a globe of the world in a grade school classroom, it does seem as if those in the southern hemisphere must be upside down, and we in our Caribbean islands and you in Florida would have been sticking out sort of sideways. Your moon musings made me remember that this morning. Joanne Mafood is who taught me to look beneath the surface of the questions people have. I wonder where she is now?
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you still remember her name and that her question made such an impression on you. The teacher missed an opportunity there, didn't she?! You should look Joanne up on Facebook!
DeleteWho Gives a Crap does great charity work, as I understand.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure about the moon being upside down here, but is certainly full and gorgeous now.
I did not know that about Who Gives a Crap! All sorts of things I'm learning here.
DeleteWe've had rain the last few days, so no moon photos from the Moon Man this month. Thank you for yours!
ReplyDeleteHappy to oblige! I was even going to add an exclamation point and call it "The Moon!" a la The Bug but I felt like that would be treading on your blog turf. :)
DeleteHa! Tread away!
DeleteFabulous. I too have used Who Gives a Crap satisfactorily but no photos accompany this recommendation, much to your relief I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteSo it's in the states too?! I've never heard of it before!
DeleteI love the last message.
ReplyDeleteJust mention toilet paper and people get very creative.
DeleteLove seeing the moon there. Makes me so glad I live in the Northern hemisphere. I think I would get nauseous walking upside down all the time.
ReplyDeletewho gives a crap is the best name for toilet paper!
Well, of course, to an Australian, we ARE all walking upside down. It's all relative!
Deleteisn't the moon basically upside down when it sets compared to when it rises? regardless it was very bright shining in my bedroom window.
ReplyDeleteNow you're testing my knowledge again. I have no idea whether it stays in the same position as it crosses the sky...?
Deletethe southern hemisphere's night sky is entirely different from the north, same celestial bodies m just a different perspective. There you go, your next holiday- Perth?
ReplyDeleteI went to New Zealand many years ago and remember seeing the Southern Cross. I would LOVE to go to Perth.
DeleteI was thinking about the moon last night. The night before it was shining brightly through my windows with a streak of white. Last night when I went to bed, I couldn't see it at all out my windows. It probably was too early for it.
ReplyDeleteThat brand of toilet paper is hilarious.
We don't see it when we go to bed -- only in early morning.
DeleteLove the cheeky TP! I've never seen it around here although I'm sure it can be ordered on-line.
ReplyDeleteApparently lots of people have heard of it. I never knew it was such a thing!
DeleteThe TP name reminds me of Holy Crap granola bars, which I don't think I could eat just because of the name. TP is different; that's what it's FOR, after all :)
ReplyDeleteAfter e's post on the moon I went online to discover the fact about the moon appearing opposite in the northern and southern hemispheres. I always like seeing the moon when I go out in the evening. It's a lovely constant.
Always nice to know you were inspired by a post...
DeleteAlways nice to BE inspired by a post :)
DeleteThe things you learn in blogland, right?! I've never heard of Holy Crap granola bars, but I agree -- that's an off-putting name for food!
DeleteGorgeous photo of the moon! I've never been able to satisfactorily capture one, but I'm really not sure what setting I should use on my camera to do so. Thanks, too, for the link. I knew the constellations were different in the southern hemisphere, but I don't guess I'd ever really thought about the moon. As lovely as I find a full moon, it totally disrupts my sleep.
ReplyDeleteI've found that I get the best results when I aim at the moon, take a light reading, and then set the camera exposure MUCH lower (for a darker image). Otherwise you don't pick up any lunar features -- you just get a picture that looks like a headlight!
DeleteThanks! I'll have to do some experimenting. I'm bad about setting it to "auto" and letting the camera do its job. That doesn't always produce good results!
DeleteWhat's funny, Steve, is that it took me 71 years to hear about the differences with the moon in the southern hemisphere! and I went through many years of school!!
ReplyDeleteLOL! Thanks for teaching me about this, Steve!
You're welcome -- I'm learning right along with you! (I suspect I did hear this fact at some point in my past but my brain discarded it along with other unused, trivial knowledge...)
DeleteI could use some Who Gives A Crap. That's a lovely shot of the moon.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
EVERYONE could use some Who Gives a Crap. In fact, if there's a recession-proof industry, toilet paper is it, right?!
DeleteIt's the harvest moon. Enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteEven though I don't really have anything to harvest! :)
DeleteNOT apropos your last item, I have heard that the water circulates in the opposite direction when a toilet is flushed south of the equator.
ReplyDeleteApparently this is true, but when I was in New Zealand I don't remember noticing it at all. In fact I'm not sure I could tell you which direction it goes HERE.
DeleteI agree, it is "cheeky." That's a super photo of the moon. Enjoy your day, hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDelete