1. Good afternoon 4B Space Scientists!! 
Please, read through the Bellwork slide & the “Coming Up” slide
Note: you have a content check-in quiz on Monday 10/22
Use the rest of the slides to fill in the note sheet provided (white paper)
Then, you will be

2. Bellwork 10/16 What do each of Kepler’s laws say?
Why are Kepler’s Laws significant to the understanding of the solar system?
How might understanding Kepler’s Laws be useful in future space exploration…either in our Solar System or beyond?

3. Coming Up: Today: Thursday 10/18 Monday 10/22 Wrap up Kepler’s laws
Begin discussing Moon Features
Begin Moon Formation Theories
Thursday 10/18
Moon Formation Theories “Stations”
Monday 10/22
Short Check-in quiz
Nebular Hypothesis, Classifying Space Objects, Kepler’s Laws
Finish Moon Formation
Lunar Cratering Simulation

4. Today we’re looking at a very specific member of our solar system
Our goal over the next few days is to understand the Moon’s features and how it formed.

5. Our Goal Today & Thursday
How did the moon form?
We will look at 4 different theories
One theory is accepted as the best…though there are certainly still questions…
I want you to look at the other 3 to understand why
Appreciate the process as to how scientific theories change…science doesn’t “get it right” immediately…

6. Earth's Moon General characteristics
Diameter of 3475 kilometers (2150 miles) is unusually large compared to its parent planet
Density
3.3 g/cm3
Less dense than Earth, but…
Composition similar to Earth's crustal rocks
Perhaps the Moon has a small iron core (?)

7. Earth’s Moon Gravitational attraction is one-sixth of Earth's
No atmosphere
Tectonics no longer active
Surface is bombarded by micrometeorites from space which gradually makes the landscape smooth

8. Our “two-faced” Moon…
Lunar Maria
Lunar Terra

9. One other interesting thing about our moon…
This is unusual because
The moon is quite close to the Earth
Many planets (much farther away) travel within a much closer degree of tilt

10. Craters on the Moon
Large crater basins (seas) were created by HUGE impactors moving very FAST
What might that tell us about the formation of the moon?
Smaller craters are created from meteoroids which produces
Ejecta
Occasional rays (associated with younger craters)

11. Major topographic features on the lunar surface

12. Lunar Surface Two types of terrain
Maria (singular, mare), Latin for "sea"
Dark regions
lowlands
Originated from asteroid impacts and lava flooding the surface

13. Formation of lunar maria

14. Lunar Surface Highlands (Terra) Bright, densely cratered regions
Make up most of the Moon
Make up all of the “far" side of the Moon
Older than maria

15. Lunar Surface Lunar regolith Covers all lunar terrains
Gray, unconsolidated debris
Composed of
Igneous rocks
Breccia
Glass beads
Fine lunar dust
"Soil-like" layer produced by meteoric bombardment

16. Now, obtain the “Moon Formation” station packet (blue paper)
Record the information on the next slide on the appropriate spot on the blue packet (front page)

17. How did the moon form? Let’s find out…
Two challenges a lunar formation hypothesis must address:
Why is the Moon much less dense compared the Earth & why are their compositions different?
Why is the Moon’s inclination to the Earth tilted the way it is?