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Experiment 11: The Surface of The Moon

Experiment 11: The Surface of The Moon. Why Does the Moon Look that Way?. First, a meteor impacts lunar surface. This displaces part of the Moon’s surface, pushing it up higher than the rest Other material spreads away from edge: rays

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Experiment 11: The Surface of The Moon

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  1. Experiment 11: The Surface of The Moon

  2. Why Does the Moon Look that Way? • First, a meteor impacts lunar surface. • This displaces part of the Moon’s surface, pushing it up higher than the rest • Other material spreads away from edge: rays • Sometimes, molten rock falls back in to center of crater creating an isolated mountain or central peak • Maria: special consideration…

  3. Maria • If it’s a particularly big meteor, the impact cracks open the Moon’s crust • Lunar magma! It seeps out through cracks and fills in crater, creating a smooth, dark sea.

  4. Name the Features

  5. So How Old is This Stuff? • No erosion on moon… • Assuming a constant rate of meteor impact, the more craters a thing has, the older it is

  6. Theories of Moon formation. How Did the Moon Form?Some Theories… CAPTURE THEORY Earth gravitationally captured a passing asteroid SISTER THEORY Moon formed right alongside Earth FISSION THEORY Earth was spinning so fast, Moon spun off

  7. Giant Impact Theory • A large body smashed into Earth! BAM! • Resulting impact melted surface of Earth and sent material flying into space • Most of this stuff was from crust and mantle • This stuff eventually coalesced into the Moon WHY DO SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THIS? CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF MOON!

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