1. A look at our nearest neighbor in space!
The Moon
A look at our nearest neighbor in space!

2. What is the Moon? 1. A natural satellite
2. One of more than 96 moons in our Solar System
3. The only moon of the planet Earth

3. Location, location, location!
1. About 240,000 miles from Earth
2,155 miles in diameter (about ¼ the size of Earth)

4. The Moon’s Surface 1. No atmosphere 2. No liquid water
3. Extreme temperatures
Daytime = 265°F
Nighttime = -310 

5. Lunar Features - Craters
Up to 2500 km (1,553 miles) across
Most formed by meteorite impact on the Moon
Some formed by volcanic action inside the Moon

6. Movements of the Moon
Revolution – Moon orbits the Earth every 271/3 days
The moon rises in the east and sets in the west
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

7. Far Side of the Moon First seen by Luna 3 Russian space probe in 1959
Surface features different from near side
More craters
Thicker crust

8. 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”

9. Waxing and Waning New moon Waxing Crescent moon First Quarter moon
Waxing Gibbous moon
Full moon
Waning Gibbous moon
Third Quarter moon
Waning Crescent moon
Waxing- Lit side getting larger.
Waning- Lit side getting smaller.

10. What you see in the boxes is the view of the Moon as WE SEE IT FROM EARTH!!

11. Moon Phase Animation Links

12. Lunar Eclipses
Moon moves into Earth’s shadow – this shadow darkens the Moon
A. Umbra
B. Penumbra
About 2-3 per year
Last up to 4 hours
Next Total Eclipse- Wednesday, Feb. 20, beginning around 9:00 pm!!

13. Lunar Eclipse
Umbra-
Umbra-a region of the shadow where the Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.
Penumbra-a region of shadow where the Earth blocks part but not all of the Sun's rays from reaching the Moon
Umbra

14. Solar Eclipses Moon moves between Earth and Sun
Moon casts a shadow on part of the Earth
Total eclipses rare – only once every 360 years from one location!

15. Umbra- a region of the shadow where the Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the Moon.
Penumbra- a region of shadow where the Earth blocks part but not all of the Sun's rays from reaching the Moon

16. The Tides Tides caused by pull of Moon’s gravity on Earth High tide –
Side facing Moon and side away from Moon
Every 12 hours, 25 ½ minutes
Low tide –
On sides of Earth

17. Exploring the Moon 1950s to 1960s - probes
Neil Armstrong First man on the Moon – July 20, 1969
Six Apollo missions ( ) 842 lbs rocks
12 Americans have walked on the moon

20. When will we return?

21. Ice on the Moon?
1994 – Clementine probe
1998 – Lunar Prospector

22. Moon base of the future?
What would you need to live there?

25. The Lunar Challenge!

26. Name this phase!
Full Moon

27. Name this phase!
First Quarter

28. Name this phase!
Waxing Crescent

29. Name this phase!
Waning Gibbous

30. Name this phase!
Third Quarter

31. Name this phase!
Waxing Gibbous

32. Name this phase!
Waning Crescent

33. What might be happening in this image?
Lunar Eclipse

34. Name this phase!
Look closely!
Waxing Gibbous

36. Name this phase!
Full Moon

37. Name this phase!
New Moon

38. Name this phase!
Waning Gibbous

39. Name this phase!
Waning Crescent

40. The Mythical Moon

50. Photo resources http://www.nasm.si.edu/apollo/AS15/a15images.htm

51. More photo resources