                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2024 September 15
    Earth's Moon is shown just beyond a rocky hill. The Moon is near full
       phase. On the hill the silhouette of a person looking through a
    telescope can be seen. A rollover darkens part of the Moon that looks
   to some like a human face. Please see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                          Find the Man in the Moon
                    Image Credit & Copyright: Dani Caxete

   Explanation: Have you ever seen the Man in the Moon? This common
   question plays on the ability of humans to see pareidolia -- imagining
   familiar icons where they don't actually exist. The textured surface of
   Earth's full Moon is home to numerous identifications of iconic
   objects, not only in modern western culture but in world folklore
   throughout history. Examples, typically dependent on the Moon's
   perceived orientation, include the Woman in the Moon and the Rabbit in
   the Moon. One facial outline commonly identified as the Man in the Moon
   starts by imagining the two dark circular areas -- lunar maria -- here
   just above the Moon's center, to be the eyes. Surprisingly, there
   actually is a man in this Moon image -- a close look will reveal a real
   person -- with a telescope -- silhouetted against the Moon. This
   well-planned image was taken in 2016 in Cadalso de los Vidrios in
   Madrid, Spain.

                    Observe the Moon Night: NASA Coverage
                      Tomorrow's picture: near Mercury
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
                  NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices;
                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

