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Worldbuilding

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  • $\begingroup$ Excellent points. Just clarifying. I didn't mean the small moon would be "not too reflective". I was trying to say that if a moon the size of our Moon was in geostationary orbit that the reflective light would dominate the night sky. As my moon would be smaller, this wouldn't be the case. It's still just as reflective...too scale. So would it still be more constantly visible than you mentioned, right? $\endgroup$
    – EveryBitHelps
    Commented Feb 20, 2017 at 7:17
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    $\begingroup$ @EveryBitHelps Please video yourself running around a lamp while holding a ball and spinning around, and upload it to YouTube. Totally for educational reasons, of course. $\endgroup$
    – David Richerby
    Commented Feb 20, 2017 at 13:44
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    $\begingroup$ If the planet was tilted 90°, the phase of the moon would gradually change over the course of a year. If the moon is perpetually half-lit, then 1/4 of a year later it'll be going through all its phases. Then 1/4 of a year later it'll be back to half-phase again. In between these points you'll get to see the moon oscillate between partial-full and crescent to varying degrees. Also your seasons would be pretty extreme. $\endgroup$
    – Kyle
    Commented Feb 20, 2017 at 16:24
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    $\begingroup$ @Kyle, thank goodness my planet is only tilted the 'normal' amount to provide regular seasons. But good to know if I ever what to give my surface dwellers a roller coaster ride :) $\endgroup$
    – EveryBitHelps
    Commented Feb 20, 2017 at 17:06
  • $\begingroup$ To add on to @Kyle's comment: That's because the planet's rotation axis points in a constant direction- it won't rotate as the plane orbits its star. So at the winter solstice, the north pole will point directly away from the star; at the summer solstice, the pole points directly toward the star; and at the equinoxes, the poles are perpendicular to the star. Thus, at the winter (summer) solstice, the entire southern (northern) hemisphere of the planet and moon will be illuminated, at the equinoxes, they'll have a normal day/night cycle everywhere, and in between for the rest of the year. $\endgroup$
    – Someone Else 37
    Commented Nov 6, 2019 at 6:18