The Moon (Part 2)

Abu Loren wrote: Tim the Plonker this is not about astronomy but miracles.

Assuming your conclusion.

The moon was at a location where it was not supposed to be

Here is a skychart for Sharjah (the same chart I linked to in the previous discussion).  You can enter any date and time at the bottom and it will  show you exactly where the moon is supposed to be at that time.

then on top of that it disappeared right in front of my eyes just like last year during Ramadan.

Most of the photos show the moon very near the horizon, where it is especially likely to be obscured by smoke/steam from chimneys, wind-blown dust/sand, etc. You won't necessarily see the pollution source itself at night, but I have often seen celestial objects appearing and disappearing, flickering or dimming like that.  No miracle, just natural phenomena.

Compare the locations of the moon between the pics I've provided and you'll see that something is not quiet right.

If you would give us exact dates and times for the pics, as well as the direction you were facing when you took the picture, that might help.  Otherwise how can we tell whether it's right or not?

This is for people like you who believe in nothing to just BELIEVE.

As I told you, we do believe.  In clouds, and in air pollution.  And in science.

Ron Webb wrote: Most of the photos show the moon very near the horizon, where it is especially likely to be obscured by smoke/steam from chimneys, wind-blown dust/sand, etc. You won't necessarily see the pollution source itself at night, but I have often seen celestial objects appearing and disappearing, flickering or dimming like that.� No miracle, just natural phenomena.

Only on the nights of the miracle are the moon near the horizon. Like I've explained the moon was higher up in the sky then it moves down the horizon (all withing 10 - 15 mins) then it changes colour then disappears. There are no visible pollution to be seen as you can see the moon and the diminishing light of the moon.

Now the moon is very high up on the horizon and hardly moves within 2 hours that I stay there at the location.

Abu Loren wrote: Only on the nights of the miracle are the moon near the horizon. Like I've explained the moon was higher up in the sky then it moves down the horizon (all withing 10 - 15 mins) then it changes colour then disappears. There are no visible pollution to be seen as you can see the moon and the diminishing light of the moon.

All of which is exactly what one would expect from natural phenomena, as I have explained repeatedly.  Of course you're not going to see the pollution directly.  It's dark outside (also a natural phenomenon, called "night").

Now the moon is very high up on the horizon and hardly moves within 2 hours that I stay there at the location.

Here's a suggestion: set up your camera in a fixed position on a tripod, then take regular pictures every ten minutes or so.  You will see that the moon is moving across the sky at a constant rate -- approx. 0.25 angular degrees per minute, or 2.5 degrees from each photograph to the next.  If you could see the stars, which you probably can't because of air and light pollution, you could also note that the moon's position relative to the stars does not change noticeably in a single evening.

By the way, you might be interested in attending the opening of the new Sharjah Centre for Astonomy and Space this coming Thursday, July 2.  You may find someone there who can discuss this "miracle" with you.

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Edited by airmano - 29 June 2015 at 1:24pm