The Moon
Earth’s Closest Neighbor
How was the Moon created?
The most widely accepted theory is the Giant Impact Hypothesis, which suggests
that the Moon formed about 4.5 billion years ago after a Mars-sized object, called
Theia, collided with Earth.
The impact ejected debris into space, which eventually coalesced due to gravity,
forming the Moon.
Moon Phases
The Moon does not produce its own light; it reflects sunlight.
As the Moon orbits Earth, different portions of its illuminated side become visible,
creating lunar phases in the following order:
New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the Sun; the side facing Earth is dark.
Waxing Crescent – A small, growing portion of the Moon is visible.
First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the right side (in the Northern Hemisphere).
Waxing Gibbous – More than half of the Moon is visible, growing toward full.
Full Moon – The entire face of the Moon is illuminated.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon starts shrinking; more than half is still visible.
Last Quarter – The left half of the Moon is illuminated.
Waning Crescent – A small, shrinking sliver of the Moon is visible before the cycle repeats
Lunar Eclipse
Lunar Eclipse: Happens when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, casting a
shadow on the Moon. This only occurs during a full moon.
Total Lunar Eclipse: The Moon passes entirely into Earth's umbra (full shadow) and
may appear red (a "Blood Moon").
Partial Lunar Eclipse: Only part of the Moon enters Earth's umbra.
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: The Moon moves through Earth's penumbra (outer
shadow), causing a slight dimming.
Solar Eclipse
Solar Eclipse: Happens when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, blocking
sunlight. This only occurs during a new moon.
Total Solar Eclipse: The Moon completely covers the Sun, visible only along a
narrow path on Earth.
Partial Solar Eclipse: The Moon covers part of the Sun.
Annular Solar Eclipse: The Moon is too far from Earth to fully cover the Sun, leaving
a bright "ring of fire."
Tides
The Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, causing tides.
There are two high tides and two low tides per day (in most places) due to the
Moon’s gravitational influence and Earth’s rotation.
Spring Tides (higher high tides and lower low tides) occur during new and full
moons, when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align.
Neap Tides (weaker tides) occur during first and last quarter moons, when the Sun
and Moon form a right angle with Earth, reducing gravitational effects.
The Surface of the Moon
The Moon’s surface is covered in dust, rock, craters, and mountains, shaped by
billions of years of impacts and volcanic activity. Since the Moon has no
atmosphere, there is no weather or erosion like on Earth, so surface features
remain unchanged for millions of years.
Moon Surface Features
Regolith: The Moon’s surface is covered in a layer of fine, powdery dust and
broken rock called regolith, created by meteoroid impacts.
Color: The surface appears gray and rocky, with lighter highlands and darker
volcanic plains.
No Water or Atmosphere: There is no liquid water on the surface, though ice exists
in permanently shadowed craters at the poles.
Extreme Temperatures: Ranges from about 260°F (127°C) in sunlight to -280°F
(-173°C) in darkness due to the lack of an atmosphere to regulate heat.
Craters
Formed by asteroid and meteorite impacts.
Examples:
Tycho Crater (One of the youngest and brightest craters).
Copernicus Crater (Large, well-preserved impact crater).
South Pole-Aitken Basin (One of the largest known impact basins in the solar
system).
Maria (Lunar Seas)
Large, dark, flat plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.
The word "maria" (singular: mare) means “seas” in Latin because early astronomers
mistook them for oceans.
Examples:
Mare Imbrium (largest visible mare, near Tycho Crater).
Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility, site of the Apollo 11 landing).
Highlands (Terrae):
Light-colored, mountainous regions made of ancient, cratered rock.
Older than the maria, dating back over 4 billion years.
Rilles:
Long, narrow valleys or channels, likely carved by ancient lava flows.
Example: Hadley Rille near the Apollo 15 landing site.
Lunar Mountains:
Some of the Moon’s mountains are as tall as Earth’s tallest peaks.
Examples:
Montes Apenninus (Near Apollo 15 landing site).
Montes Alpes (Lunar Alps).
Lunar Poles & Ice Deposits:
The Moon’s poles have permanently shadowed craters, where temperatures are
so cold that water ice has been detected.
Possible future resource for astronauts!
