The Surface of the Moon

Surface Surface: The top or outside of something

What’s the Moon Made Of? The Moon is a huge ball of rock. The Moon’s surface is covered with powdery gray soil (dirt).

Making Observations… What do you notice about the surface of the Moon? Think about colors, textures, and shapes you see.

Observe this picture of the Moon’s Surface…

And this one…

And this one!

What did you observe? Is the Moon’s surface flat and smooth? Is the Moon all one color? What do you think the Moon is made of?

What is the Moon made of? The Moon is a giant ball of rock that orbits the Earth. The Moon’s surface is covered with powdery gray soil (dirt.) The soil on the Moon is dry and dusty.

Features of the Moon’s Surface Craters Mare

Craters and Mare Craters are bowl-shaped dents in the surface of the Moon. Craters Mare are smooth areas on the Moon. Mare They are called mare, because that is a Latin word for “sea.” A long time ago, people thought there might be seas on the Moon.

Crater Pictures

And One More… Crater Tycho

Make a Prediction… How do you think that craters are formed?

How Craters are Formed 1. Meteorites and asteroids are pieces of rock, ice, and/or metal that are floating around in space. 2. When a meteor or asteroid crashes into the Moon, it makes a dent. 3. The dent is called a crater. 4. Video Video

More about Craters Earth has craters too… But not nearly as many as the Moon! That’s because the Earth has an atmosphere – a protective layer of air. More about craters. More about craters

Features of the Moon’s Surface Craters Mare

What about the Mare? Sometimes the Moon’s mare are also called maria. Maria means more than one mare. These words both mean “sea.” A long time ago, scientist thought that there were big oceans on the Moon. (Now we know there is no water n the Moon.) Maria were actually formed long, long ago (BILLIONS of years ago!!)

How Maria are Formed 1. The Moon had volcanoes many years ago, although it does not have any volcanoes any more. 2. When the volcanoes erupted, they sent ashes and lava (melted rock) into the sky. The ashes and lava flowed onto the surface of the Moon.volcanoes erupted

How Maria are Formed (cont’d) 3. The ashes and lava hardened into rock again. The rock that was formed is darker and smoother than the rest of the Moon’s surface. (Think of it like water hardening into ice) 4. Very few craters have been made on the maria, which is why they still look darker. Maria are smoother than the rest of the Moon’s surface.

A Map of the Moon!

Hills and Mountains on the Moon! The Moon has hills and mountains as well! Most of these hills and mountains were formed when the craters were formed. The energy and explosion that happens when a crater is formed could cause parts of the land to get pushed up. The hills and mountains on the Moon look lighter to us from earth.

What do you think this is!?

Hadley’s Rille This certainly looks like it might be a river. But there is no water on the Moon! Scientist believe that features like this were probably formed by lava flowing a very long time ago.lava flowing

Now You Know… What are some features of the surface of the Moon?