# Were Apollo astronauts able to see the REALLY dark side of the moon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-apollo-astronauts-able-to-see-the-really-dark-side-of-the-moon/673569 "2013-11-10T13:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DHMO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@DHMO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DHMO)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-apollo-astronauts-able-to-see-the-really-dark-side-of-the-moon/673569/21 "2013-11-10T22:56:08Z")
Part of the problem with the OP (I got that “dark” refers to unobserved [from Earth], not unilluminated) is that none of the Apollo missions flew to the Moon when it was in Full Moon phase (as seen from Earth.) As **Francis Vaughan** points out, all lunar landings took place with a low Sun angle at the landing site, which was relatively near the centerline of the Earth-facing hemisphere. The astronauts, and especially the Command Module Pilot, would orbit the Moon many times during their mission, but none of them were in orbit while the Moon was “Full” (as seen from the Earth.) Of course, there would be a portion (roughly one-half) of the Lunar surface not illuminated either by direct Sunlight or reflected “Earthshine.” That part of the terrain would be illuminated only by starlight. Given the low albedo of lunar soil (about 0.12, about as reflective as asphalt), it would be remarkable if any details could be observed from lunar orbit. I am certain, however, that many largish features (maria, highlands, large craters and such) would be easily seen from the Apollo capsules in orbit. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-apollo-astronauts-able-to-see-the-really-dark-side-of-the-moon/673569/22 "2013-11-11T00:50:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s interesting how **Machine Elf** actually used the terminology correctly in her OP, but everyone assumed that she was using it incorrectly, and thus assumed that she was also making another mistake. Taking her meaning of the dark side literally, and not the often confused term for the _far side,_ is fair enough, but a disclaimer would’ve been nice, since most everyone would assume the astronauts would be beyond curious as to what the far side looked like, since the near side is mundane and familiar. In that I’d simply just ask, _"Was the dark side of the moon (not the “dark side”), at its darkest, visible to the Apollo crew by starlight alone?_ I WAGed that it was, **Francis Vaughn** said it certainly should be. We’d need a quote from an Apollo astronaut for confirmation, but **DHMO** claims they never orbited during a full moon. Sorry for the confusion/assumption **Machine Elf.** ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-apollo-astronauts-able-to-see-the-really-dark-side-of-the-moon/673569/23 "2013-11-11T02:08:52Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > In that I’d simply just ask, _"Was the dark side of the moon (not the “dark side”), at its darkest, visible to the Apollo crew by starlight alone?_ The second dark should be a far. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-apollo-astronauts-able-to-see-the-really-dark-side-of-the-moon/673569/24 "2013-11-11T04:32:08Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > The second dark should be a far. That’s what I get for posting on an iPhone. Yes, I meant for the parenthetical not to actually be a part of the clarified question, but I did intend the quotes to mean the far side, which is often confused as the “dark side”. Perhaps I should’ve used brackets. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-apollo-astronauts-able-to-see-the-really-dark-side-of-the-moon/673569/25 "2013-11-11T04:36:21Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > I think the OP is asking is if in orbit (or on the surface - I’m not sure) can you see the details on the far side of the Moon during the full moon phase. Well yeah, that’s how you’d say it if you were trying to be economical in your use of words. 😃 Sometimes I overcomplicate things. :smack: > [@Chronos](#): > > It’s interesting how Machine Elf actually used the terminology correctly in her OP, but everyone assumed that she was using it incorrectly, and thus assumed that she was also making another mistake. Also interesting how I have a penis, despite your use of feminine pronouns in referring to me. 😃 [sub](or are [machine elves](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_elf) all female?)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-apollo-astronauts-able-to-see-the-really-dark-side-of-the-moon/673569/26 "2013-11-11T04:47:01Z")
In my defense, I was following **Chronos’s** remark in gender. I will now restore my mental image of you by returning to you your penis. ~~_ **ding!** _~~ All done. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2013, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-apollo-astronauts-able-to-see-the-really-dark-side-of-the-moon/673569/27 "2013-11-11T15:53:19Z")
Oh. Sorry about that. I guess my mental image of “elf” is more Galadriel than Legolas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-apollo-astronauts-able-to-see-the-really-dark-side-of-the-moon/673569.md?page=1)