Earth’s Moon Chapter 2.2

What is the Moon? Earth’s only natural satellite The only two planets without moons are Mercury and Venus 3,476 kilometers in diameter

The Moon’s Surface No atmosphere No liquid water Extreme temperatures Daytime = 130C (265°F) Nighttime = -153C (-243 F) 1/6 Earth’s gravity 60 lbs on earth=10 lbs on moon!

Movements of the Moon Revolution – Moon orbits the Earth every 27 1/3 days 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

It’s Just a Phase Moonlight is reflected sunlight Half the moon’s surface is always reflecting light From Earth we see different amounts of the Moon’s lit surface The amount seen is called a “phase”

Waxing and Waning WAX ON…WANE OFF Waxing Waning When the moon is “growing”  gaining light Waning When the moon is getting smaller  losing light

Waxing and Waning New moon Waxing Crescent moon First Quarter moon Waxing Gibbous moon Full moon Waning Gibbous moon Last Quarter moon Waning Crescent moon