hcvotz: The diameter of the moon and sun differ by a factor of over four hundred! The diameter of the moon is 3,474 kilometers. The diameter of the sun is 1,400,000 kilometers. However, because of their relative differences in distance to us, they appear roughly the same size.

I wonder how the rotation of the moon, such that the same surface always directed at the earth, affected early astronomy. If the moon had a different rotation, they could see it spinning. Then wouldn't early observers have been able to guess that the earth is also round and spinning at a much earlier point in history?

Yeah, the last 8 years of the Daily Show isn't the entire archive by any means. I'd love to tune into some of the Craig Kilborn episodes with his hilarious "Five Questions" to many unsuspecting guests.