1 / 64

The Moon

The Moon. A look at our nearest neighbor in Space!. What is the Moon?. A natural satellite One of more than 96 moons in our Solar System The only moon of the planet Earth. Location, location, location!. About 384,000 km (240,000 miles) from Earth

reya
Download Presentation

The Moon

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Moon A look at our nearest neighbor in Space!

  2. What is the Moon? • A natural satellite • One of more than 96 moons in our Solar System • The only moon of the planet Earth

  3. Location, location, location! • About 384,000 km (240,000 miles) from Earth • 3,468 km (2,155 miles) in diameter (about ¼ the size of Earth) • Less dense than Earth

  4. The Moon’s Surface • No atmosphere • No liquid water • Extreme temperatures • Daytime = 130C (265°F) • Nighttime = -190C (-310 F) • 1/6 Earth’s gravity

  5. Comparison of the Near and Far Sides

  6. We see only one side from Earth • Synchronous rotation- Moon rotates at the same rate that it revolves around the Earth.

  7. Near and Far Side of the Moon • Near Side • Half maria, half highlands • Thinner crust Far Side • First seen by Luna 3 Russian space probe in 1959 • Surface features different from near side • More craters • Very few maria • Thicker crust

  8. Lunar Features - Maria • Originally thought to be “seas” by early astronomers • Darkest parts of lunar landscape • Filled by lava after crash of huge meteorites on lunar surface 3-4 billion years ago • Mostly basalt rock

  9. Lunar FeaturesRilles Long, deep ancient lava channels leftover from the formation of maria. Possibly form when a lava tunnel caves in.

  10. Lunar Features - Highlands • Appear brighter than maria because the rocks reflect more sunlight. • Mountains up to 7500 m (25,000 ft) tall mostly on the edge of maria. • Possibly formed by material thrown up after an impact.

  11. Lunar Features - Craters • Most formed by meteorite impact on the Moon • Some formed by volcanic action inside the Moon • Roughly circular • Rays- bright streaks that radiate from some craters. Form from shattered rock and dust after meteorite impacts.

  12. Craters Can you see the rays? Maria Does this photo show us a limb or terminator line?

  13. Lunar FeaturesRegolith Fine layer of dust and rock that covers the moon’s surface Made from smashing of rock due to meteorite impacts. Has no water or organic material. Ranges in thickness from 1-20 meters.

  14. Movements of the Moon • Revolution – Moon orbits the Earth every 271/3 days • The moon rises in the east and sets in the west • The moon rises and sets 50 minutes later each day • Rotation – Moon turns on its axis every 27 days • Same side of Moon always faces Earth

  15. It’s Just a Phase • Moonlight is reflected sunlight • Half the moon’s surface is always reflecting light • From Earth we see different amounts of the Moon’s lit surface • The amount seen is called a “phase”

  16. Waxing and Waning • New moon • Waxing Crescent moon • First Quarter moon • Waxing Gibbous moon • Full moon • Waning Gibbous moon • Third Quarter moon • Waning Crescent moon • New moon

  17. FOUR MAIN SHAPES FULL CRESCENT Four Basic Shapes GIBBOUS QUARTER

  18. Earth Plane of earth’s orbit Moon Plane of lunar orbit Moon

  19. Lunar Eclipses • Moon moves into Earth’s shadow – this shadow darkens the Moon • Umbra • Penumbra • About 2-3 per year • Last up to 4 hours

  20. Solar Eclipses • Moon moves between Earth and Sun • Moon casts a shadow on part of the Earth • Total eclipses rare – only once every 360 years from one location!

  21. The Tides • Tides caused by pull of Moon’s gravity on Earth • High tide – • Side facing Moon and side away from Moon • Every 12 hours, 25 ½ minutes • Low tide – • On sides of Earth

  22. Exploring the Moon • 1950s to 1960s - probes • Neil Armstrong First man on the Moon – July 20, 1969 • Six Apollo missions (1969-1972) • 382 kg (842 lbs) rocks • 12 Americans have walked on the moon

  23. When will we return?

  24. Moon base of the future? • What would you need to live there?

  25. The Lunar Challenge!

  26. Name this phase! Full Moon What time does this phase rise and set?

  27. Name these features. Craters Maria Name these features.

  28. Does this image show us the near side or far side of the moon? Far Side How can you tell?

  29. Is this line the limb or terminator? Limb Terminator Is this line the limb or terminator?

  30. Name this phase! First Quarter

  31. Name this phase! Waxing Crescent

  32. Does this image show the near side or the far side of the moon? Near Side

  33. Name this phase! Waning Gibbous

  34. Name this phase! Third Quarter

  35. From what direction does the moon rise? The East

  36. Name this phase! Waxing Gibbous

  37. Name this phase! Waning Crescent

  38. What might be happening in this image? Lunar Eclipse

  39. Is this line the limb or the terminator? Limb

  40. Name this phase! Look closely! Waxing Gibbous

  41. True or False: The Far Side and the Dark Side of the moon are the same thing. False!

  42. Name this phase! Full Moon

  43. Name this phase! New Moon

  44. Does the moon rise or set in the west? It sets in the west.

  45. Name this phase! Waning Gibbous

  46. Name this phase! Waning Crescent

  47. Name this phase! Waning Gibbous

More Related