1. Mr. Cloud and Mrs. Brochstein Earth Science
The Origin of the Moon
Mr. Cloud and Mrs. Brochstein
Earth Science

2. What did we find When We Reached the Moon?
Astronauts became geologists and learned how to identify rocks.
They returned to Earth with many lunar rock samples.
These rocks were analyzed and determined to be very similar to rocks found within Earth’s mantle!
Moon rocks!

3. The Giant Impact Hypothesis
A protoplanet the size of Mars struck the Earth around 4.5 Billion Years Ago.
The debris from the impact began to orbit Earth, coalesce, and eventually form the Moon.
Artist’s depiction of the Giant Impact Event

4. Galileo’s Lunar Observations
Galileo was the first to describe the spherical shape of the moon.
He noted that regions had contrasting shades.
He theorized that the dark regions were seas and named them ‘Mare,’ which is Latin for ‘sea.’

5. Lunar Phases