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) the Narsilion, the "Song of the Sun and Moon". The published "Silmarillion" states that the Sun was created by the Vala Aulë; he and his people made a vessel to hold the radiance of the last fruit of Laurelin. The vessel of the sun was guided by Arien, a Maia. Names of the Sun amongst the Elves included Anar or "The Fire-golden", a name given to it by the Vanyar; Anor, the common name for the Sun in Sindarin, as seen in "Minas Anor" (later Minas Tirith) and the Gondorian province of "Anórien"; and Vása, or "Heart of Fire", a