Our Moon

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Slide 1

The Moon

A look at our nearest neighbor in Space!

Slide 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

Slide 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)

Slide 4

Birth of the Moon

“Born” 4-5 billion years ago

Formed from impact of Mars-sized “planetesimal” on Earth

Debris from both objects melted together to form the Moon

Slide 5

Cut to the Core

3 major divisions of the Lunar interior

Crust - average thickness of about 70 kilometers

Mantle

Core - radius is between 300 and 425 kilometers

Slide 6

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

Slide 7

Lunar Features - Highlands

Mountains up to 7500 m (25,000 ft) tall

Rilles (trenchlike valleys)

Slide 8

Lunar Features - Craters

Up to 2500 km (1,553 miles) across

Most formed by meteorite impact on the Moon

Some formed by volcanic action inside the Moon

Slide 9

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

Slide 10

Slide 11

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

Slide 12

Far Side of the Moon

First seen by Luna 3 Russian space probe in 1959