Scientists are using the moon as a giant mirror to measure Earth's warming

Space
Scientists are using the moon as a giant mirror to measure Earth's warming

By observing the faint glow of earthshine reflecting off the dark side of the moon, researchers can track how much sunlight our planet absorbs and how its climate is changing.

Researchers monitor the Earths albedo, or its ability to reflect sunlight, by pointing telescopes at the moon. This process captures earthshine, which is sunlight that bounces off our planet and illuminates the moons dark surface. A decrease in this dim light indicates that Earth is absorbing more solar energy rather than reflecting it back into space.

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