1. Structure and Atmosphere
The Moon Itself
Structure and
Atmosphere

2. (Perhaps -240°C ( -400°F) in deep craters)
Basic Lunar Stats
Radius: 1,738 km ( 26 % of Earth’s)
Mass: Earth Masses (7.349 x 10^22 kg)
Density: g/cm³
Surface Gravity: 1.6 m/s² (1/6 of Earth’s)
Temperature: Low: -173ºC (-280ºF)
(Perhaps -240°C ( -400°F) in deep craters)
High: 130°C (260°F)

3. The Lunar Atmosphere
For all practical purposes the Moon has no atmosphere.
The lack of an atmosphere is why temperatures vary so greatly…no greenhouse effect
There is slightly more helium near the Moon’s surface than in space, but not enough to count as an atmosphere.
Near the poles there are traces of hydrogen.
Source? Frozen Water from comets that has collected in the inside of polar craters that are permanently dark and thus cold.

4. Water Ice Confirmed on Moon
In November 2009 a space probe was delibrately crashed into a crater near the Moon’s South Pole.
Another probe flew through the resulting “splash” of debris and confirmed the presence of water ice!
This water ice can be used to supply a Lunar colony and make rocket fuel on the Moon making Space exploration easier

5. The Regolith
Collisions of asteroids and meteoroids with the moon have created the Regolith
It is a light colored layer of dust and rock
It is the “soil” of the Moon.

6. Lunar Layers Regolith: Tens of meters thick.
Crust: made of Silicates, rigid
60 km thick on near side.
100 km on far side.
Mantle: about 1300km thick. Denser than crust, but rigid
Core: Metallic, Iron and Nickel, very small.
The core is off center…closer to near side
because…
Earth’s gravity affects core and crust.