The recognition that the Moon must be as large as it is for people to exist definitely tempers any complaints astronomers make about light “pollution.” These gripes are further tempered by the recognition that the Moon has an extraordinarily dark surface. It reflects a mere 7 percent of its incident light. Earth, by comparison, reflects 39 percent, some of Jupiter’s and Saturn’s moons reflect 60 to 90 percent, and Neptune reflects 73 percent.[7] Because the Moon is so exceptionally dark, or non-reflective (see figure 5.1), its bounced-back light presents a minor annoyance to astronomers rather
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