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The moon

The moon. An intensive look at the biggest satellite orbiting the earth. General Information. The moon is a satellite because it orbits the Earth Force of gravity is lighter, due to the fact that it is a lighter body than the earth

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The moon

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  1. The moon An intensive look at the biggest satellite orbiting the earth

  2. General Information • The moon is a satellite because it orbits the Earth • Force of gravity is lighter, due to the fact that it is a lighter body than the earth • 6:1 ratio – if you weigh 120lb on earth, you only weigh 20 lbs on the moon • No atmosphere • Temperature range from 134-170 • Orbits every 29.5 days

  3. Lunar Surface • Light and dark patches • Dark areas are known as “maria” mar= sea in Latin • Space Scientists used to think they were seas • Now they know it is dark solidified lava • Long, deep channels – known as Rilles

  4. Lunar Surface continued • Lunar Highlands- light areas of moon; contain 2 types of rocks • Regolith- lunar soil (loose rock) formed from smashing meteoroids (celestial body range of size).

  5. Craters • Most formed 4 billion years ago • Caused by meteors • Debris known as rays • Earth is believed to once have craters similar to those on the moon

  6. Lunar orbit and rotation • The orbit of the moon around the earth forms an ellipse, not a circle • Distance of moon to earth varies • When the moon is farthest – it is Apogee • When the moon is closest – it is Perigee • Same side of the moon is always facing us.

  7. Why do we only see the same side of the moon • “Tidal forces between Earth and the Moon have slowed the moon's rotation so that the same side is always facing the Earth. The other face, which is never visible from the Earth in its entirety (18% is seen, see Tidal locking), is therefore called the "far side of the Moon".”

  8. Eclipses • Occurs when one planetary body passes through the shadow of another • Shadow of any solid object has 2 parts: • Umbra- sunlight completely blocked (inner-cone shaped) • Penumbra- sunlight partially blocked

  9. Lunar Eclipses Lunar Eclipse – when the earth is positioned between the moon and the sun, and the earth’s shadow crosses the lighted half of the moon (fully in Earth’s umbra) Partial lunar eclipse- moon only partly in earth’s umbra Total lunar eclipse- moon fully in earth’s umbra

  10. Lunar Eclipse

  11. Solar eclipses • Solar Eclipse – when the shadow of the moon falls on the earth, occurs only at the new moon phase. Moon’s small umbra makes it rare. • Annular solar eclipse- occurs at apogee (moon farthest), umbra falls short, we see the outermost circle of sun. • Total solar eclipse- moon at perigee, umbra reaches earth, completely blocks out sun.

  12. Annular Solar Eclipse

  13. Total Solar Eclipse

  14. Moon phases • New Moon • Waxing crescent • First Quarter • Waxing gibbous • Full Moon • Waning gibbous • Last Quarter • Waning crescent

  15. Waxing • When the size of the visible portion of the moon is increasing

  16. New Moon • No lighted area of the moon

  17. Waxing (New) Crescent Only a sliver of the moon is visible on the right.

  18. First Quarter (Half Moon) Only a quarter ( we see it as half) of the moon is visible from the right.

  19. Waxing Gibbous More than half, but less than full of the moon is visible from the right. (3/4 visible) Last phase before full moon.

  20. Waning • The portion of the moon visible from earth is decreasing

  21. Full Moon • When the moon appears in full circle • The earth is between the sun and the moon

  22. Waning Gibbous More than half, but less than full of the moon is visible from the left. (3/4 visible)

  23. Last Quarter Only a quarter ( we see it as half) of the moon is visible from the left.

  24. Waning (Old) Crescent Only a sliver of the moon is visible from the left. Last phase before New moon appears again.

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