The ISS doesn’t fall to Earth because it is moving forward at exactly the right speed that when combined with the rate it is falling, due to gravity, produces a curved path that matches the curvature of the Earth. The variable in that equation is “r” which is the distance between the ISS and the center of the Earth.
Q. What is the gravitational force on the international space station?
The gravitational field on the ISS is approximately 89% of that on the Earth’s surface.
Q. What would happen to the international space station if it were not moving sideways?
If NASA were to completely abandon the space station and make no attempt whatsoever to maintain it, the engines would eventually run out of fuel or suffer some kind of mechanical failure. Its orbit would decay—that’s a space-y way of saying the station would get closer and closer to Earth—until it came crashing down.
Q. Has anyone floated off into space?
On February 7, 1984, Bruce McCandless became the first human to float free from any earthly anchor when he stepped out of the space shuttle Challenger and flew away from the ship.
Q. Can everyone see the moon at the same time?
Yes, everyone sees the same phases of the Moon. People north and south of the equator do see the Moon’s current phase from different angles, though. If you traveled to the other hemisphere, the Moon would be in the same phase as it is at home, but it would appear upside down compared to what you’re used to!
Q. Who sees the moon first?
On the Equinox the first place on the planet to observe the rising of the Sun or the moon will be on Big Diomede island Russia. The reason for this is that a day on this planet begins on the international Date Line. This line generally follows the 180th line of longitude.
Q. Why can everyone on earth see the moon?
As the moon continues in its orbit around the Earth, away from the sun, increasingly more of its sunlit surface is visible. This is why the moon sometimes appears as a crescent or half-moon. When it’s farther from the sun and visible above the horizon, it’s easier to spot during the day.
Q. What dates are full moons in 2020?
Full moons of 2020
- Jan.
- Feb.
- March 9 – Worm moon (supermoon)
- April 7 – Pink moon (supermoon)
- May 7 – Flower moon (supermoon)
- June 5 – Strawberry moon and a penumbral lunar eclipse (not visible in U.S.)
- July 5 – Buck moon and a penumbral lunar eclipse.
- Aug.
Q. What size is the moon tonight?
The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waxing Gibbous phase. This phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a Full Moon. The phase lasts about 7 days with the moon becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon.
