Talk:Planetshine

Yet another neologism?
I can't find any significant body of literature that uses "planetshine" in the sense of this article: "Earthshine" dominates, and is even used when the Earth isn't the reflecting body (see http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=3115 as one random example). mdf 13:04, 10 April 2007 (UTC)
 * I agree that the title ought to be Earthshine, instead of what it is at present. And I see that if you ask http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ for the definition of planetshine you get redirected to definitions of earthshine.


 * So there seems to be pretty clear consensus over this, does anyone object to the title being changed? There is a procedure for changing the title, which I'd be prepared to carry out (the existing title would be automatically redirected to the new page). The introduction would need to be changed a little also. --Brian Josephson (talk) 16:56, 12 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Here are some other users of the word "planetshine":
 * http://dictionary.sensagent.com/Planetshine/en-en/#:~:text=The%20phenomenon%20known%20as%20planetshine%20occurs%20when%20reflected,Earth%20when%20the%20Moon%20is%20a%20thin%20crescent.
 * https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-planetshine.html
 * https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2020/04/23/the-dark-side-of-the-moon-will-be-lit-up-this-weekend-by-planetshine-heres-when-to-look/?sh=4c70ad4643cd
 * https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/earthshine.html

George Albert Lee (talk) 15:21, 6 October 2021 (UTC)

Copyright violation
mdf's above comment is correct. Earthshine is the preferred terminology for this astronomical occurrence, and the article's title should reflect such.

Additionally, the image of Earthshine linked, uploaded by a previous user, is not public domain, nor is NASA the source of the astrophoto. The actual author is a prominent astrophotographer named Russell Croman, and the image is copyrighted. See the original photo here on his website (and, please note that the image's metadata also lists Croman as being the source). Now, NASA may have used Croman's photo somewhere with his permission, but that in no way implies that the image is public domain.

Either the image should be removed, or someone should seek Mr. Croman's permission for use of the photo (and include proper citation). I would undertake this myself but I've never participated here and am unfamiliar with the protocols; I signed up to post this comment after recognizing the source of the image noted above and desired to bring it to someone's attention.

Cheers. Am astronomer 05:09, 20 April 2007 (UTC)


 * The protocol is surprisingly manual. But it  it is done. mdf 16:52, 20 April 2007 (UTC)


 * Much appreciated, mdf. Am astronomer 23:05, 20 April 2007 (UTC)
 * The image is on Commons, I requested deletion there. Garion96 (talk) 00:00, 29 April 2007 (UTC)

Capitalization
This term is often seen capitalized as in this article, but logically shouldn't it be lower-case just like "sunshine"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.82.179.226 (talk) 04:59, 29 October 2008 (UTC)


 * Yes, I believe it should. Merriam-Webster and Britannica agree, as does a quick literature survey on Google Scholar.  There are several web pages and a few scholarly articles that use the capitalized form, but most(?) of those seem to be referring to something else named "Earthshine", not to the phenomenon itself.  Feel free to fix it.  —Ilmari Karonen (talk) 13:26, 29 October 2008 (UTC)


 * Done. Coroboy (talk) 17:33, 23 September 2010 (UTC)

Reference [1] is a bad link
Reference [1] points to an article on Sky and Telescope that doesn't appear to exist. More likely, the reference is in the wrong format. S&T news articles are not referenced as "article number xxx." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.193.10.56 (talk) 17:32, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Different picture for ringshine
I think this image is a clearer illustration of ringshine than the one currently on the page.
 * I changed the picture. Sorry it took several edits to get it right. --Saprophage

Saprophage (talk) 01:10, 7 May 2010 (UTC)

Search for terrestrial planets
The final section of the article does not appear to be relevant as it refers to a search for starlight directly reflected from planets, not planetary light reflected from their satellites or rings. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ringbinder (talk • contribs) 17:53, 9 March 2011 (UTC)

The final section is also out of date. The missions mentioned (TFI and Darwin) have all been cancelled but there are similar missions with different names being planned, namely Finesse (NASA), Tess (NASA) and Echo (ESA). Athosfolk (talk) 14:53, 19 November 2013 (UTC)


 * I agree it is not relevant, being a very different phenomenon. Probably the section should be eliminated: adding a 'see also', linking with the exoplanets article should be enough to satisfy anyone who feels a heartfelt need for some reference to be made to this in the article. The section title is distinctly off, too (did no-one spot this before?), as all the planets in the solar system other than Earth are extraterrestrial! (last sentence struck through as the section title is correct in the article. I've corrected it on this talk page). --Brian Josephson (talk) 21:44, 12 March 2014 (UTC)

Earthshine and Sailors Folk-lore.
Re: Earthshine is used to help determine the current albedo of the Earth. The data are used to analyze global cloud cover, a climate factor. Oceans reflect the least amount of light, roughly 10%. Land reflects anywhere from 10–25% of the Sun's light, and clouds reflect around 50%. So, the part of the Earth where it is daytime and from which the Moon is visible determines how bright the Moon's earthshine appears at any given time.

I do not recall where I heard, or saw this, but I do remember an old tradition, that when you see the Old Moon in the New Moon's arms, beware to sailors of coming storms. I pick these words, as they might form a couplet mnemonic.

I found this:

(dark part visible)

Late, late yestreen I saw the new moon

With the old moon in her arms,

And I fear, I fear, my master dear,

We shall have a deadly storm.

Ballad of Sir Patrick Spenser.

To see the old moon in the arms of the new one is a sign of bad weather to come.

Note: this is only valid in the sense of Western Europe with respect to the Atlantic ocean, as the brightness of the Earthshine there is indicative of cloud cover over that ocean.

Dave at 168 10:00, 13 January 2015 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Daveat168 (talk • contribs)

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