The MOON; Earth’s one and The MOON; Earth’s one and only natural satellite. only natural satellite.

Lunar OverviewLunar Overview

The moon is the fifth largest natural The moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the Solar System.satellite in the Solar System.

Its orbit is synchronous with the orbit of Its orbit is synchronous with the orbit of the Earth.the Earth.

The same side of the moon is constantly The same side of the moon is constantly facing the Earth. facing the Earth.

The moon cycles through Lunar Phases.The moon cycles through Lunar Phases. The moon is the second brightest The moon is the second brightest

appearing object in the sky to the sun, and appearing object in the sky to the sun, and receives its illumination by reflecting the receives its illumination by reflecting the light of the sun.light of the sun.

Continued…Continued…

The moon is the fifth largest The moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the Solar natural satellite in the Solar System.System.

Its orbit is synchronous with Its orbit is synchronous with the orbit of the Earth.the orbit of the Earth.

The same side of the moon The same side of the moon is constantly facing the is constantly facing the Earth. Earth.

The moon cycles through The moon cycles through Lunar Phases.Lunar Phases.

The moon is the second The moon is the second brightest appearing object brightest appearing object in the sky to the sun, and in the sky to the sun, and receives its illumination by receives its illumination by reflecting the light of the reflecting the light of the sun.sun.

The Moons Orbital The Moons Orbital PropertiesProperties

The Moon orbits the Earth during a period of The Moon orbits the Earth during a period of 27.322 days.27.322 days.

Its inclination from the elliptical plane is 5.16 00, Its inclination from the elliptical plane is 5.16 00, this leads to distinct eclipse seasons this leads to distinct eclipse seasons occurring approx. every five months.occurring approx. every five months.

Its average distance from the earth is Its average distance from the earth is 239,200 miles or 1.284 light seconds.239,200 miles or 1.284 light seconds.

Its eccentricity is 0.0554, where 0 is a perfect Its eccentricity is 0.0554, where 0 is a perfect circle and 1 is a parabola. This means its orbit circle and 1 is a parabola. This means its orbit is distinctly elliptical.is distinctly elliptical.

Synchronous OrbitSynchronous Orbit

The Moon orbits The Moon orbits around the Earth around the Earth every 27.3 days; every 27.3 days; and simultaneously and simultaneously around the Sun as around the Sun as Earth revolves Earth revolves around the Sun at a around the Sun at a period of period of approximately approximately every 365 days. every 365 days.

Lunar PhasesLunar Phases

The Moons appearance from Earth changes The Moons appearance from Earth changes nightly this is because of the altering angles of nightly this is because of the altering angles of the Earth, Moon, and the Sun. Changing from the Earth, Moon, and the Sun. Changing from a new Moon, the side facing us receiving no a new Moon, the side facing us receiving no light, to a full Moon, the side facing us being light, to a full Moon, the side facing us being completely illuminated.completely illuminated.

At new Moon, the moon is between the Earth At new Moon, the moon is between the Earth and the sun and at the full Moon, the moon is and the sun and at the full Moon, the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth than the sun.on the opposite side of the Earth than the sun.

From Earth, the lunar cycle, also called the From Earth, the lunar cycle, also called the Synodic period, takes 29.5 days to complete Synodic period, takes 29.5 days to complete itself.itself.

Lunar LandingsLunar Landings There were thirteen Apollo There were thirteen Apollo

missions.missions. (Apollo 1, Apollo 6, 7, 8, (Apollo 1, Apollo 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17)9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17)

Apollo 8 was the first manned Apollo 8 was the first manned mission; they were the first mission; they were the first humans to orbit the moon. In 1968 humans to orbit the moon. In 1968 they went around the moon 10 they went around the moon 10 timestimes

July 20July 20thth 1969 in the Apollo 11 1969 in the Apollo 11 mission the first humans set foot mission the first humans set foot on the moon. They collected on the moon. They collected samples of lunar rock and soil On samples of lunar rock and soil On July 24July 24thth the crews rocket splashed the crews rocket splashed into the ocean of the cost of into the ocean of the cost of Hawaii.Hawaii.

Apollo number 17 was the last Apollo number 17 was the last manned mission to the moon; manned mission to the moon; December 12December 12thth 1972. They used a 1972. They used a Lunar Roving Vehicle, introduced Lunar Roving Vehicle, introduced during Apollo 15, to collect during Apollo 15, to collect samples.samples.

Physical PropertiesPhysical Properties

Mass: 7.3459 * 10^22 Mass: 7.3459 * 10^22 kgkg

Mean Density: 3.344 Mean Density: 3.344 g/cmg/cm^3^3

Gravity: 5.328 g/s^2 Gravity: 5.328 g/s^2 or 0.1656 or 0.1656 gg

Average Radius: Average Radius: 1079.6 mi1079.6 mi

Equatorial Rotation: Equatorial Rotation: 10.35910.359

Geography or “Lunography”Geography or “Lunography”

Maria ( singular ‘mare’) are the Moons Maria ( singular ‘mare’) are the Moons most viewable landscapes. They would most viewable landscapes. They would be similar to earth’s oceans. Maria was be similar to earth’s oceans. Maria was imprinted on the Moon by hot flowing imprinted on the Moon by hot flowing lava 3 billion yrs ago. The Moon is lava 3 billion yrs ago. The Moon is covered by about 16% of the Earth but it covered by about 16% of the Earth but it is more abundant on the side of the is more abundant on the side of the Moon that can be seen from Earth.Moon that can be seen from Earth.

Highlands form the rest of the Moons Highlands form the rest of the Moons surface. These are highly cratered, surface. These are highly cratered, rugged areas that are mostly turned to rugged areas that are mostly turned to rubble, called Bressia, by meteorites rubble, called Bressia, by meteorites colliding. These parts date back 3.8 to colliding. These parts date back 3.8 to 4.6 billion years ago- the age of the 4.6 billion years ago- the age of the Moon according to rock dating and Moon according to rock dating and mineral tests.mineral tests.

The Moon also has mountains with The Moon also has mountains with peaks reaching up to 4 to 5 kilometer. peaks reaching up to 4 to 5 kilometer. The mountains are mostly very jagged The mountains are mostly very jagged and steep, due to the lack of erosion on and steep, due to the lack of erosion on the moon.the moon.

Gravitational PullGravitational Pull The moons gravity has an effect in the The moons gravity has an effect in the

Earths ocean tides. “Tide” refers to the Earths ocean tides. “Tide” refers to the rising and falling in sea level that occurs. rising and falling in sea level that occurs. The moon has a gravity that pulls on the The moon has a gravity that pulls on the Earth causing seas and other big bodies Earth causing seas and other big bodies of water to go from high tide to low tide of water to go from high tide to low tide and back to high tide again. This and back to high tide again. This happens approximately ever 12 hrs and happens approximately ever 12 hrs and 25 minutes. The attraction of Earth to 25 minutes. The attraction of Earth to the Moon causes the Earth to bulge in the Moon causes the Earth to bulge in the center and wind and other currents the center and wind and other currents creates waves.creates waves.

There are two types or times periods of There are two types or times periods of tides. In Spring tides which occur when tides. In Spring tides which occur when the Sun and Moon are aligned the tides the Sun and Moon are aligned the tides are more dramatic, higher highs and are more dramatic, higher highs and lower lows. When the Sun and Moon are lower lows. When the Sun and Moon are not aligned this is when what are called not aligned this is when what are called neap tides happen; they are not as neap tides happen; they are not as defined tides as the tides during Spring defined tides as the tides during Spring Tides. (These periods do not refer to the Tides. (These periods do not refer to the season, but again to when the Sun and season, but again to when the Sun and Moon are aligned and when they are Moon are aligned and when they are not.)not.)

Creation TheoriesCreation Theories

There are four basic scientific There are four basic scientific theories on how the Moon was theories on how the Moon was formed. formed.

1.1. Just like a planet- through the Just like a planet- through the collecting of dust and gas when collecting of dust and gas when the Solar System was forming.the Solar System was forming.

2.2. Asteroid Theory- states the Asteroid Theory- states the Earths gravity captured the Moon Earths gravity captured the Moon and it became an orbiting and it became an orbiting satellite. satellite.

3.3. The “Fission Theory” says while The “Fission Theory” says while Earth was forming it was Earth was forming it was spinning so fast that it split in spinning so fast that it split in two. two.

4.4. And the most accepted theory is And the most accepted theory is that a Mars sized planet crashed that a Mars sized planet crashed into Earth during their early into Earth during their early years and parts of Earth and the years and parts of Earth and the planet went flying and through planet went flying and through gravity the pieces molded gravity the pieces molded creating the Moon. creating the Moon.

Other studies on the MoonOther studies on the Moon

The Moon, also sometimes referred to as The Moon, also sometimes referred to as “Luna” has been a fascination of man since the “Luna” has been a fascination of man since the beginning ages. The Moon is also studied in beginning ages. The Moon is also studied in Astrology, the study of the stars and space and Astrology, the study of the stars and space and it’s effect on Human behavior and history. The it’s effect on Human behavior and history. The Moon has been a character in many stories, tales, Moon has been a character in many stories, tales, songs, for many cultural beliefs give it special songs, for many cultural beliefs give it special qualities. qualities.

It is often seen as a mystical object with spiritual It is often seen as a mystical object with spiritual associations. The Moon plays a role in the female associations. The Moon plays a role in the female menstrual cycle and thus, it is representative of menstrual cycle and thus, it is representative of the goddess and feminine characteristics. By the goddess and feminine characteristics. By some it is praised as a life giver and a source of some it is praised as a life giver and a source of light in the darkness.light in the darkness.

ConclusionConclusionEarth’s satellite, the Moon, is an object orbiting the Earth close to Earth’s satellite, the Moon, is an object orbiting the Earth close to

once a month. Every night, other than on a New Moon, the Sun once a month. Every night, other than on a New Moon, the Sun illuminates a portion of the Moon creating a source of light, a sort illuminates a portion of the Moon creating a source of light, a sort of spot light and guardian of the Earth. Without the delicate of spot light and guardian of the Earth. Without the delicate balanced relationship between the Earth, the Sun, and The Moon balanced relationship between the Earth, the Sun, and The Moon life on Earth would be non-existent.. Or at least very different. It is life on Earth would be non-existent.. Or at least very different. It is a fascinating clump of space debris that is both scientifically vital a fascinating clump of space debris that is both scientifically vital and beautifully imaginative.and beautifully imaginative.

ReferencesReferences

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=the+mooni=the+moon

http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid-stuff/http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid-stuff/moon-landing.htmlmoon-landing.html

http://www.synapses.co.uk/astro/moohttp://www.synapses.co.uk/astro/moon3.htmln3.html

http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moontides/Astro/moon/moontides/