2. The Moon

3. MOON: a natural satellite of a planet may vary widely in composition

4. The Earth’s Moon Lunar rocks brought back during Apollo missions found to be 4.6 billion years old…a clue to the age of the Earth and of our solar system…

5. Exploring the Moon 1957: Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite

6. Exploring the Moon… 1961: Yuri A. Gagarin, Soviet cosmonaut, became first human in space 1962: Project Mercury: Alan B. Shepard, Jr., first American in space Project Gemini: launched 2-person crews

7. Apollo 11 Apollo 11 July 20, 1969 landFirst manned mission to land on the moon ArmstrongNeil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin

8. I. Formation of the Moon  Giant-Impact Hypothesis:  Mars-sized body struck the Earth early in its history  Collision caused an ejection of fragments into orbit around Earth  Fragments eventually joined to form the moon  Supported by silica-rich samples of moon rocks brought back by Apollo astronauts

9. Moon Impact TheoryMoon Impact TheoryMoon Impact TheoryMoon Impact Theory

11. II. Movements of the Moon The orbit of the moon around Earth is an ellipse –Apogee: when the moon is furthest away from Earth –Perigee: when the moon is closest to Earth

15. ROTATION and REVOLUTION Periods are EQUAL Revolution around the Earth: 27.3 days –Revolution around Earth creates moon phases and eclipses Rotation on its axis: one rotation during each orbit around the Earth

16. A. Tides The daily, periodic rise and fall of Earth’s water levels caused by the gravitational attraction between the Earth and moon Two (2) high and low tides each day Create a bulge of land and water on one side of the Earth

18. SPRING TIDES: higher high tides and lower low tides at FULL and NEW moon phases

19. During SPRING TIDES: The SUN, MOON, EARTH form a LINE To SPRING means: “to jump” or “to leap up”

20. NEAP TIDES: weak tides; tidal ranges at a minimum occur during QUARTER moons

23. B. Eclipses 1. SOLAR Eclipse: MOON is between the Earth and the Sun and blocks out the Sun.

27. 2. LUNAR Eclipse: EARTH is between the moon and the Sun and Earth’s shadow blocks out the moon.

29. EclipsesEclipsesEclipses

30. What makes the moon shine?

31. III. Lunar Cycle: Phases of the Moon  NEW Moon: moon is not illuminated (lit)  FULL Moon: full lighted circle Earth is between the moon and the sun

32.  WAXING increases  WAXING Moon: size of the visible portion of the moon increases

33.  WANING  WANING Moon: size of the visible portion of the moon decreases

34. Lunar Month Synodic 29.53Synodic month: measured from new moon to new moon = 29.53 days Sidereal 27.32Sidereal month: orbital period = 27.32 days

35. Sidereal vs. Synodic Periods Sidereal vs. Synodic Periods

36. Phases of the MoonPhases of the MoonPhases of the MoonPhases of the Moon