Moonland.wav

CLICK BELOW FOR MOON LANDING AUDIO, LISTEN CLOSELY! (TEACHERS – IF A WINDOW APPEARS, CLICK YES)

OverviewQuick FactsMissions to the MoonOrigin TheoriesLunar PhasesEclipse!TidesLegends, Myths, and Folklore

Quick Facts

•Size -- 2,140 miles in diameter, about 27%the size of earth

•Comprised of -- mostly volcanic rock, a powdery dust

•Distance from Earth -- 240,250 miles from Earth

Quick Facts (cont.)

•Gravity – moon’s gravity is 17% of the Earth's gravity (a 100 pound person would weigh only 17 pounds on the Moon)

•Atmospheric conditions – no atmosphere

Missions to the Moon

• Lunar exploration began 1959• U.S. missions such as Ranger,

Surveyor and Lunar Orbiter photographed the lunar surface preparing for astronauts to land there

• On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the surface of the moon during the Apollo 11

Missions to the Moon (cont.)

• Missions Apollo 12-17 focused on collection of rock samples for analysis

• 1994 a NASA spacecraft discovered possible water (ice) on the moon

Theories of Origin• Impact Theory – Earth collided with a

large object (the size of Mars or larger) sending pieces of the earth into space, which eventually became the moon (most widely accepted)

• Coaccretion theory– the Moon formed in Earth's orbit along with all the other planets in the Solar System

Theories of Origin (cont.)

• Fission theory – In early days of the solar system, the earth was spinning so fast that a piece of the earth flew off and remained in the earth’s orbit

• Capture theory – the moon was formed elsewhere in the solar system and was “captured” by the earth, perhaps by gravity

What do you think??

Lunar PhasesWhy does the moon change shape

in the sky?

We do not see all of the daytime side of the moon,

because the moon revolves around the earth.

• Moon Phases demonstration from the Internet

Identify Phases

• New Moon: the new moon is not visible because the shadow of the moon faces the earth

Phases cont..

• Waxing Crescent: shaped like a thumbnail

Phases cont..

• 1st Quarter (first moon): half moon

Phases cont..

Waxing Gibbous: almost full

Phases cont..

• Full Moon: the entire side of the moon facing the earth is illuminated

Phases cont..

• Waning Gibbous: is getting smaller

Phases cont..

• 3rd Quarter (Last moon): half moon

Phases cont..

• Waning Crescent: looks like a thumbnail

ECLIPSE!

• Solar Eclipse: the moon pass directly between the earth and the sun

ECLIPSE!

• Lunar Eclipse: the earth passes directly between the moon and the sun

Tides, Tides, Tides

•The oceans swell due to the gravitational pull of the moon on the earth

Tides, Tides, Tides

• Sometimes the difference in high and low tide is very dramatic!

Historical tidal gauge at Anchorage, Alaska where the tidal range is typically 35 feet. Photo courtesy of NOAA's Oceanographic Products and Services Division.

Tides, Tides, Tides

Spring Tide

Neap Tide

Legends, Myths, and Folklore

• Cultural influences and beliefs– Native American

•Werewolves!• Can you think of any more?