Talk:Man in the Moon

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Since the moon is perceived up the other way in the southern hemisphere, there is a strong potential for alternative "faces" to be interpreted there - some mention of that might be very useful. In particular, if one takes the example image and rotates it so the top-left corner points straight down (135 degrees rotation anticlockwise), a simple face is apparent. This is the most common face people "see" in places like New Zealand.

Does anyone know what "other cultures" see in the moon?

The Japanese see a rabbit. Actually, I've never been able to see a human face, but I can see the rabbit just fine. — Gwalla | Talk 00:42, 15 Mar 2005 (UTC)

There's also a movie with this title. Anyone want to stub it? --Alex Cohn 22:12, 14 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Man in the moon in different cultures

Is there a list of cultures where the "man in the moon" perception is commonplace? Is it an English-centric thing, or is it present in different languages/cultures? Personally I've never heard of such a thing except in English-language sources, but I only speak two languages, so that may be misleading. (The article does mention other cultures, but only to list what non-man objects those culture recognize in the moon, and without any sources.)

The written description is somewhat hard to follow to anyone not versed in moon crater names. For people who have problems "seeing" the face, it might be beneficial to include an actual drawing that, superimposed to an actual image of the moon, outlines the position of the perceived "facial features". Hniksic 10:07, 25 Jun 2005 (UTC)

i probably would, but it's harder to see the face close up in a picture... i've never seen anything but a human face... -hexhunter 16:32 GMT 30.09.05

Certainly not unique to English, but I suspect it may be a European thing. However, what the article doesn't explain is the origin myth of the man in the moon. --MacRusgail 20:20, 22 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Erm... the most obvious man in the moon reference seems to be missing... as in the rhyme . The man in the moon Came down too soon, And asked the way to Norwich. He went by south, And burnted his mouth By eating cold plum porridge. I'm new to changing things and so thought that someone else might like to change the page. Thanks, Phipli 19:48 BST 9th Aug 2006

Pictures

I agree with the post that the highlighting would be useful. However, I believe that one of the eyes is improperly referred to. At the top of the article, it states that "the figure's eyes are the Mare Imbrium and Mare Serenitatis". But in the diagram with the four pictures of the moon, the two eyes circled are Mare Imbrium and Mare Tranquillitatis (for reference, see http://media.skytonight.com/documents/GettingStartedNorth.pdf)

This article would benefit from pictures highlighting the various features of each 'image'. I for one, can see none of them. This makes me sad. :( -- Run! 22:28, 6 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I suggest you swipe and upload locally this image. 68.39.174.238 15:16, 15 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

That link takes me to what I assume is a missing image page on the german wikipedia. This makes me sad :( -- Run! 21:10, 15 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Oh nevermind, turns out it's the Netherlands wikipedia, not the german one. I decided to use the cross-language link from this article instead and found it on the german wikipedia anyway. Cheers. -- Run! 21:15, 15 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The position of the "bowl" and "pestle" seem to be somewhat off in the rabbit image. Compare [1]. --207.245.10.221 20:50, 4 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The outlines on the lower-left image: Is that it? Is that the traditional, "classic" Man in the Moon that many people see? 163.192.21.44 16:03, 2 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Isn't it more than just a face? I was wondering what the Man in the Moon was and before I came here I saw this page http://www.planetfusion.co.uk/~pignut/see_man.html -

i have to say, from england, the man-in-the-moon's face is totally different to what you have delineated. i'm not at home right now and i cant see any good pictures on line either, but honestly, the face is not vague at all- he looks like a jolly fat farmer- almost like a buddha face actually- really smiling- and really detailed. i was surprised to see what other people consider to be the face.Good european 22:05, 22 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

149.175.110.83 07:05, 1 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Disambiguation

This page should be a disambiguation-page, because of some films, like

Man in the Moon (1960 film), a romantic comedy
The Man in the Moon, with Reese Witherspoon, Jason London, Sam Waterston
The Man in the Moon (2004 film), a short fantasy thriller directed by Joe White
The Man in the Moon (1960), a television movie

Puck 21:23, 2 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Is it really sensible to do that when none of those articles exist yet? I'm genuinely unsure on that particular aspect of disambiguation pages so I don't know. -- Run! 21:32, 2 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Redlinks on disambiguation pages are fine. The two dab links that are at the top of this article already would go along with them, so it wouldn't be completely redlinks — in any case, it would go at Man in the Moon (disambiguation) rather than this article, because the subject of this article is the primary topic.--SB | T 21:55, 2 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The disambiguation should also include the phrase Man on the Moon, which is easily confused.--MacRusgail 14:25, 28 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Not only culture

The fact that some people around the world see different pictures in the moon is not only because of culture. In different countries they actually see the moon differently. For example, Australians are seeing it up-side-down compared to Europeans... because compared to them they are standing up-side-down! 201.50.214.34 23:23, 25 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Woman in the moon

In Bulgaria people regard the moon as a woman, not as a man. They see it's "face" as a woman that is a bit sad or worried. look at some pictures and you will find that the moon can also appear as a woman. 83.228.121.186 (talk) 19:55, 18 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Jewish origins???

Regarding: "One tradition, both Christian and Jewish, claims him as Cain" -- what are your sources for this? Certainly, citing Dante's Inferno does not prove any Jewish connection!
Regarding: "There is also a Talmudic tradition that Jacob is on the moon" -- what are your sources?

192.118.76.130 (talk) 11:05, 6 August 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Popular Culture

I deleted this from the intro:

"It may have also been referenced in the cult comedy series The Mighty Boosh. Sometimes during the show, the moon will spin round to reveal the face of a man who will make comments or tell vague stories."

Just moving it here in case someone feels like adding a "man in the moon in popular culture" section later. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.236.235.151 (talk) 00:51, 24 November 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Jewish Origins???

Regarding: "One tradition, both Christian and Jewish, claims him as Cain" -- what are your sources for this? Certainly, citing Dante's Inferno does not prove any Jewish connection!

You are quite right to question this. From what I can find now, the myth seems to be medieval Christian in origin. The only Jewish connection seems to be the original story of Cain, which has no lunar component. The statement was badly phrased, if not wholly incorrect.

Regarding: "There is also a Talmudic tradition that Jacob is on the moon" -- what are your sources?

Wolfson, Elliot R. "The Face of Jacob in the Moon" in The Seductiveness of Jewish Myth: Challenge or Response? S. Daniel Breslauer, ed. This essay has 35 pages on the identification of Jacob with the moon in Jewish lore, including the idea that Jacob's face is engraved on the moon.

Harley, the Rev. Timothy, FRAS [Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society]; Moon Lore; 1885. "... though the Jews have a Talmudic tradition that Jacob is in the moon, and though they believe that his face is plainly visible, the Hebrew Scriptures make no mention of the myth."

I've edited the article to add the references and change the inaccuracy. Thanks.

D.Helber (talk) 04:43, 5 January 2009 (UTC)[reply]

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