the moon moon: a natural satellite of a planet may vary widely in composition
TRANSCRIPT
The MoonThe Moon
MOON:MOON:
• a natural satellite of a planet
• may vary widely in composition
The Earth’s MoonThe Earth’s Moon
• Lunar rocks brought back during Apollo missions found to be 4.6 billion years old…a clue to the age of the Earth and of our solar system…
Exploring the MoonExploring the Moon
•1957: Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite
Exploring the Moon…Exploring the Moon…
• 1961: Yuri A. Gagarin, Soviet cosmonaut, became first human in space
• 1962: Project Mercury: Alan B. Shepard, Jr., first American in space
• Project Gemini: launched 2-person crews
Apollo 11Apollo 11• July 20, 1969
• First manned mission to landland on the moon
• Neil ArmstrongArmstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin
I. Formation of the MoonI. Formation of the Moon
Giant-Impact Hypothesis:
Mars-sized body struck the Earth early in its history
Collision caused an ejection of fragments into orbit around Earth
Fragments eventually joined to form the moon
Supported by silica-rich samples of moon rocks brought back by Apollo astronauts
• Moon Impact Theory
II. Movements of the MoonII. Movements of the Moon• The orbit of the moon around Earth is an
ellipse– Apogee: when the moon is furthest away from
Earth– Perigee: when the moon is closest to Earth
ROTATION and REVOLUTION ROTATION and REVOLUTION Periods are Periods are EQUALEQUAL
• Revolution around the Earth: 27.3 days– Revolution around Earth creates
moon phases and eclipses
• Rotation on its axis: one rotation during each orbit around the Earth
A. TidesA. Tides
• The daily, periodic rise and fall of Earth’s water levels caused by the gravitational attraction between the Earth and moon
• Two (2) high and low tides each day
• Create a bulge of land and water on one side of the Earth
SPRING SPRING TIDES:TIDES:
higher high tides and lower low tides at
FULL and NEW moon phases
• During SPRING TIDES:
• The SUN, MOON,
EARTH form a
LINE
• To SPRING means:
“to jump” or
“to leap up”
• NEAP TIDES: weak tides; tidal
ranges at a minimum
• occur during QUARTER
moons
B. EclipsesB. Eclipses
1. SOLAR Eclipse: MOON is between the Earth and the Sun and blocks out the Sun.
2. LUNAR Eclipse: EARTH is between the moon and the Sun and
Earth’s shadow blocks out the moon.
•
• EclipsesEclipses
What makes the moon shine?What makes the moon shine?
III. Lunar Cycle: III. Lunar Cycle: Phases of the MoonPhases of the Moon
NEW Moon: moon is not illuminated (lit)
FULL Moon: full lighted circle
• Earth is between the moon and the sun
WAXINGWAXING Moon: size of the visible portion of the moon increasesincreases
WANINGWANING Moon: size of the
visible portion of the moon decreases
Lunar MonthLunar Month
• SynodicSynodic month: measured from new moon to new moon = 29.5329.53 days
• SiderealSidereal month: orbital period = 27.3227.32 days
Sidereal vs. Synodic PeriodsSidereal vs. Synodic Periods
• Phases of the MoonPhases of the Moon
•