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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what the hell I just saw?

240 replies

QuestionableMouse · 30/07/2021 00:25

Looking at the moon through some new binoculars and it had a line (shadow) across the bottom bit. I've never seen anything like it!

My sister is staying atm and she saw it too so I wasn't imaging things. Nothing wrong with the binoculars and the line doesn't show up when looking at other light things.

It was very clear and distinct, looked like something was casting a shadow over the surface. I've attached a very terrible diagram 😂

(black is just where the moon is in shadow, red line is where the line/shadow was)

To wonder what the hell I just saw?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
TableFlowerss · 30/07/2021 08:12

@HilaryBriss

YABU because all I can see is a picture of the moon with a load of black scribble over it.
🤣 this
Frauhubert · 30/07/2021 08:15

Have a sugary tea.

Amandasummers · 30/07/2021 08:18

I wish I had an answer for you op, however, think it’s fair to point out that posters are being dicks on this thread and/or thick/deliberately obtuse. If posters are finding it so incredibly difficult to understand, that says more about them than it does you!

Mrstreehouse · 30/07/2021 08:19

…but it’s funny. Enjoying some of the answers. 😂

AtlasPine · 30/07/2021 08:20

‘Have a sugary tea’ - have you no interest or curiosity about the Galaxy? What a rude attempt at a put down. You sound like a sneery Year 9.

ViceLikeBlip · 30/07/2021 08:20

Do you just mean it wasn't a full moon......?

AssassinatedBeauty · 30/07/2021 08:28

@Amandasummers

I wish I had an answer for you op, however, think it’s fair to point out that posters are being dicks on this thread and/or thick/deliberately obtuse. If posters are finding it so incredibly difficult to understand, that says more about them than it does you!

Exactly this.

It's abundantly clear that the OP saw a straight line shadow across part of the moon, that wasn't a hair or other issue with the binoculars (as she tested for that). She also didn't take a photo, the images she's uploaded are simply trying to indicate where on the moon she saw the shadow line.

From what others have posted I would think the best explanation is a contrail shadow.

Goingdriving · 30/07/2021 08:28

Maybe ask this question on an internet amateur agronomy forum

NavigatingAdolescence · 30/07/2021 08:32

@QuestionableMouse

Can you please not take the piss? It was a really odd thing to see.
Starlink satellites, maybe?
sparepantsandtoothbrush · 30/07/2021 08:33

@Amandasummers

I wish I had an answer for you op, however, think it’s fair to point out that posters are being dicks on this thread and/or thick/deliberately obtuse. If posters are finding it so incredibly difficult to understand, that says more about them than it does you!
You really understood what she meant by the first photo she posted? Black squiggles with a red arrow pointing to the black squiggles? Come off it! I don't think she would have got most of the confused (not thick) comments if she hadn't posted that
Mrstreehouse · 30/07/2021 08:37

People need to lighten up, including the OP.
Big fat eyelash on the lens? 🧐

Terhou · 30/07/2021 08:37

@ittakes2

I can see what you mean, its just above the red line more obvious on the left. I think you might make it easier for others to see if you just do a thin black circle around it. You know what you are looking at so its probably jumping out at you but I really had to peer to find what you meant. I am guessing you are wondering if its a structure someone has made as its so straight.
The photo is just a picture taken off the internet, it's not a photograph of what OP actually saw.
AssassinatedBeauty · 30/07/2021 08:38

@sparepantsandtoothbrush if you read what she wrote, especially the last sentence in brackets, it is very clear what she's referring to. The diagram was just an attempt to show where on the visible part of the moon she saw the shadow line.

ViceLikeBlip · 30/07/2021 08:41

@QuestionableMouse

Is this better?

The red line shows where the shadow/line that I saw roughly was.

Ah right, I understand now. But I don't have any answers I'm afraid!
sparepantsandtoothbrush · 30/07/2021 08:46

[quote AssassinatedBeauty]@sparepantsandtoothbrush if you read what she wrote, especially the last sentence in brackets, it is very clear what she's referring to. The diagram was just an attempt to show where on the visible part of the moon she saw the shadow line. [/quote]
It's not very clear at all! The red "line" is an arrow pointing in to the middle of black squiggles

I know what she means now I've read the whole thread but that first post WAS confusing

notimagain · 30/07/2021 08:46

Starlink satellites, maybe

That would be a string of fast moving dots.

Maybe we need a better description but there’s previously been nothing known on the Moon that casts a long thin shadow of the length described by the OP…

We don’t really get to see our own personal Moon….plenty of people will have been looking at it last night…If there are widespread reports in the media any minute now that this shadow was seen from worldwide then Shock

If there aren’t any then what they saw was caused by something more local to the OP such as a contrail , wires, cables… or ….an eyelash.

LikeAnOldFriend · 30/07/2021 08:49

I have to say I understood perfectly what you meant from your first photo!!! You saw the moon, not full, and with a line on the light side of the moon exactly where you drew the red. It seemed a good way to show that to me! I have no knowledge of these things but interesting what other posters have said about similar discussions especially that Bristol 2016 photo looks similar to what you are describing.

badatcrochet1996 · 30/07/2021 08:50

I saw 2 moons once. My mum saw it too so I wasn't just seeing things. They were adjacent to each other. Thought one was the sun, but the sun was setting in the other direction, so there was 2 'moons' and a 1 sun in the sky. I thought it could have been another planet but they were the same size. I've seen Mars and Venus before on really clear nights but this wasn't the same, they were small and look different. This was another moon.

It was literally the moon, but twice. It stayed there for about 3 minutes while we were driving on one long stretch of road, then disappeared behind a cloud.

Saw it clear as day. Was years ago now didn't have camera phones around but me and my mum who was driving at the time were like 'wtf!!'

It wasn't a balloon or a plane or a drone or anything else logical like that, it was literally our moon. The same size, colour, shape. But twice. No idea what the logical explanation is? There must be one.

dottiedodah · 30/07/2021 08:53

I think this is a really interesting thread TBH. Some people on here seem to be deliberately missing the point! I have never heard of Rupus Recta before ,but have an open mind here to anything here at least .Very envious of you OP, would looove a Telescope !

L0bstersLass · 30/07/2021 08:53

@TheSmallAssassin

The moon is the same phase everywhere, BTW. It isn't gibbous for you and full elsewhere in the world.
This is something I was wondering about a few nights ago, then it completely went out of my head before I had the means to look it up. Thank you not only for the reminder, but also for the answer.
clickychicky · 30/07/2021 08:53

@badatcrochet1996 thats so freaky!

ShitPoetryClub · 30/07/2021 08:55

I think the Tycho crater has straight impact lines coming off it. Could it be one of those in shadow? They appear very straight on Dione, one of Saturn's moons.

spotcheck · 30/07/2021 08:59

@Amandasummers

I wish I had an answer for you op, however, think it’s fair to point out that posters are being dicks on this thread and/or thick/deliberately obtuse. If posters are finding it so incredibly difficult to understand, that says more about them than it does you!
I agree OP Maybe time to find a different forum for these topics.
FixTheBone · 30/07/2021 09:00

It has to be an object between the OP and the moon.

In order to appear as it did, and be visible through binoculars, its either a previously unknown structure on the moon's surface approx 2000km long and maybe a few km wide. Or something much smaller and much closer to earth.

Eyelash, phone wire and contrails all sound like good shouts.

Jerima · 30/07/2021 09:08

You saw the whole of the moon....
( If it's not been done already CBA to read the thread)

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