<p>You are asking about the Moon's <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095722867" rel="nofollow noreferrer">diurnal libration</a>. While it is small (about 1°), it is easily measurable. It is also overwhelmed by the much larger librations due to the Moon's non-circular orbit and due to the Moon's orbit being inclined with respect to the Earth's equatorial plane.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-18T10:20:23.993Z
How does the orbital inclination affect libration?
TonyK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-18T17:55:38.673Z
@TonyK When the Moon's Earth-centered position is below the equator, we on Earth get to see the Moon's north pole, and points beyond on what would nominally be the far side of the Moon. The Moon's south pole is not visible at these times. The reverse happens when the Moon's Earth-centered position is above the equator. This is called libration in latitude.
David Hammen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-18T18:40:25.367Z
But that is because the angle between the moon's axis of rotation and its orbital plane is less than 90°. That is not what is meant by [orbital inclination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_inclination), which is independent of the axis of rotation.
TonyK
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-17T09:29:20.180Z
2021-07-17T09:29:20.180Z
David Hammen
<p>I am aware of phases and the fact that opposite sides will see the moon flipped relative to the other but what I’m asking specifically is would the almost 8000 mile difference between the two observers be enough for them to see different details near the edge of the moon?</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/rewZh.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rewZh.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>So in this image, if there were 2 people on opposite sides of the earth each 90° from the person seen on top, would the person on the right see more of the right side of the moon while the one on the left couldn’t see some of that but could see more on the left?</p>
<p>If you have any examples of this with <em>actual photos</em> from each side I would love to be able to see the difference.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-17T01:49:34.933Z
This is a great question! I've added the second part of your question back into your title so that it is now clearly not a duplicate of previous similar questions. "Would it look different" and "would photos look different" have been asked before, but specifically asking for photographic evidence in the answer Is a new question. Welcome to Astronomy SE!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-18T10:18:55.153Z
You can take both these photos yourself, just by waiting 12 hours.
TonyK
<observational-astronomy><the-moon><amateur-observing><moon-phases>
Would people on opposite sides of the earth see different details of the moon, if so are there actual photos demonstrating this?
Beans
# Would people on opposite sides of the earth see different details of the moon, if so are there actual photos demonstrating this?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-07-17)

I am aware of phases and the fact that opposite sides will see the moon flipped relative to the other but what I’m asking specifically is would the almost 8000 mile difference between the two observers be enough for them to see different details near the edge of the moon?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/rewZh.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/rewZh.jpg)

So in this image, if there were 2 people on opposite sides of the earth each 90° from the person seen on top, would the person on the right see more of the right side of the moon while the one on the left couldn’t see some of that but could see more on the left?

If you have any examples of this with *actual photos* from each side I would love to be able to see the difference.

Thanks!

**Tags:** observational-astronomy, the-moon, amateur-observing, moon-phases

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is a great question! I've added the second part of your question back into your title so that it is now clearly not a duplicate of previous similar questions. "Would it look different" and "would photos look different" have been asked before, but specifically asking for photographic evidence in the answer Is a new question. Welcome to Astronomy SE!  
> **username_2**: You can take both these photos yourself, just by waiting 12 hours.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-07-17. Score: 4

You are asking about the Moon's [diurnal libration](https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095722867). While it is small (about 1°), it is easily measurable. It is also overwhelmed by the much larger librations due to the Moon's non-circular orbit and due to the Moon's orbit being inclined with respect to the Earth's equatorial plane.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: How does the orbital inclination affect libration?  
> **username_3**: @username_2 When the Moon's Earth-centered position is below the equator, we on Earth get to see the Moon's north pole, and points beyond on what would nominally be the far side of the Moon. The Moon's south pole is not visible at these times. The reverse happens when the Moon's Earth-centered position is above the equator. This is called libration in latitude.  
> **username_2**: But that is because the angle between the moon's axis of rotation and its orbital plane is less than 90°. That is not what is meant by [orbital inclination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_inclination), which is independent of the axis of rotation.  

---

