The Moon Earth’s Only Natural Satellite

Many Moons Ago… The part of the Moon that we see at night changes from day to day The part of the Moon that we see at night changes from day to day The Moon also changes its position in the sky The Moon also changes its position in the sky Sometimes we don’t see the Moon at all! Sometimes we don’t see the Moon at all!

As The Moon Turns The Moon rotates and revolves in the same amount of time: 27.3 days! This causes us to only see one side of the Moon

Moonlight, Moonbright We can see the surface of the Moon because of the light colored rocks that reflect the Sun’s light We can see the surface of the Moon because of the light colored rocks that reflect the Sun’s light At all times, half of the Moon is dark and half is lighted At all times, half of the Moon is dark and half is lighted As the Moon revolves around the Earth, we can see different portions of that lighted side As the Moon revolves around the Earth, we can see different portions of that lighted side

It’s Just a Phase! The phases that occur between new moon and full moon are called waxing phases The phases that occur between full moon and new moon are called waning phases

More About the Phases The major phases of the cycle are New, First Quarter, Full, and Last Quarter The major phases of the cycle are New, First Quarter, Full, and Last Quarter It takes the Moon 29.5 days to complete the cycle. This is called the synodic cycle It takes the Moon 29.5 days to complete the cycle. This is called the synodic cycle

Total Eclipse of the Heart Eclipses only occur when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are perfectly lined up…this will result in a total eclipse Sometimes, if they are not quite in line, you will have a partial eclipse Two kinds of eclipses are solar and lunar

Blocking Out the Sun Solar eclipses occur when the Moon comes in between the Earth and Sun Solar eclipses occur when the Moon comes in between the Earth and Sun The Moon casts a shadow on to the Earth The Moon casts a shadow on to the Earth The darkest part of the shadow is called the umbra, and the lighter part of the shadow is called the penumbra The darkest part of the shadow is called the umbra, and the lighter part of the shadow is called the penumbra The only part of the Sun that is seen is the corona The only part of the Sun that is seen is the corona

Where Did The Moon Go? Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth comes in between the Moon and the Sun The Earth casts a shadow back on to the Moon From this we were able to determine that the Earth was a sphere!

The Swiss Cheese Moon Three major features on the surface of the Moon: maria, craters, and highlands Three major features on the surface of the Moon: maria, craters, and highlands When you look at the Moon and you see the darker regions, these are the maria When you look at the Moon and you see the darker regions, these are the maria They are believed to be ancient lava flows from when the Moon first formed They are believed to be ancient lava flows from when the Moon first formed The lighter colored regions are the highlands The lighter colored regions are the highlands

More Features… The craters on the Moon’s surface formed from meteors, asteroids, and comets hitting its surface

Fly Me To The Moon! Three theories exist on how the Moon formed. One is currently supported by the scientific community. The other 2 are exactly as it says: THEORIES!! Three theories exist on how the Moon formed. One is currently supported by the scientific community. The other 2 are exactly as it says: THEORIES!! 1. The Moon formed somewhere else and was pulled in by Earth’s gravity 2. A blob of molten material was ejected from the Earth when it was hit by a large meteor 3. Whatever was left over from when the Earth formed condensed to form the Moon and got locked into orbit around the Earth