Moon clouds. The illuminated area of the visible sphere (degree of illumination) is given by formula_3, where formula_4 is the elongation (i.e., the angle between Moon, the observer (on Earth) and the Sun). The gravitational attraction that masses have for one another decreases inversely with the square of the distance of those masses from each other. As a result, the slightly greater attraction that the Moon has for the side of Earth closest to the Moon, as compared to the part of the Earth opposite the Moon, results in tidal forces. Tidal forces affect both the Earth's crust and oceans. The
Sun and Moon (Middle-earth) Sun. In the universe of Middle-earth, the Sun is generally regarded as feminine, in recognition of Arien. This gender corresponds with Sól (Sun), the personified in Germanic mythology. The Maia Tilion was chosen to guide the vessel of the Moon. Names of the Moon amongst the Elves included Isil or "The Sheen", a name given to it by the Vanyar; Ithil, the common name for the Moon in Sindarin, as seen in "Minas Ithil" (later Minas Morgul) and the Gondorian province of Ithilien; and Rána, or "The Wayward", a name given to the Moon by the Noldor. A poetic name