[ WP ] Earth did get tidally locked with the Moon and it 's only viewable from either North or South America . When Europeans first come to the new world they also tell tales of a new object in the sky . ( x-post from /r/space )

It was noon on the 6th day of the year, the solstice. They had been sailing West from Spain for 3 days now, and morale was running low after so long at sea. The relentless heat from the sun as noon was approaching had prevented anyone from sleeping for over 48 hours now. The crew were getting weary, and although swimming in the sea granted some respite from the heat, shark fins had been spotted which meant no-one was brave enough to risk it. 
 
 A garbled cry went up from the crow's nest, who was pointing to the West. As Captain John Silver's eyes searched the horizon looking for masts, he gasped as a semi-circular light appeared from across the horizon. What did it mean? 
 
 It must be the heat, he told himself, the solstice often caused men to see things which were n't really there. It would pass in another few hundred hours. If only he could get some sleep....
