Shouldn't moonlight kill vampires?

[whitewolf]

I know this is a more general vampire lore related question, but I thought I might get some interesting theories here. If moonlight is just reflected sunlight then how can vampires stand the moon? I know I'm over thinking it since people didn't know that back when the myths were created, but I thought it might make for fun theories.

 

[dexeded]

Indirect sunlight doesn't hurt Spike or Angel. And moonlight is like a very very indirect sunlight thingy, so it wouldn't even hurt normal vamps, pardon my phrasing.

 

[EVIL UU]

It seems to me that it has to be direct actual sunlight, otherwise any rational vampire hunter would simply use a lamp ( grow light or something similar ) there's nothing special about sunlight.

I know I'm over thinking it since people didn't know that back when the myths were created, but I thought it might make for fun theories.

The show doesn't really follow the original myths. According to myths sunlight doesn't even kill vampires.

 

[JCoatsworth]

As already said, moonlight is sunlight reflected by the moon and therefore indirect. I have noticed that in BtVS, a vampire can stand in a sunlit room, as long as they don't get hit by direct sunbeams.

 

[white avenger]

Also, apparently, it is only OUR sun whose rays affect vampires, since we have seen on several different occasions that the sun in other dimensions has no affect on them whatsoever.