The Moon

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The Moon
Our satellite - Whats it like?
No Atmosphere - thats pretty easy. Or is it? No
temperature regulation Daytime temperature 400
K (266 F) Nighttime temperature 100 K (-280 F)
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Surface Features
Craters Mare - dark, smooth regions Craters Highla
nds - lighter colored, rough terrain Craters Moun
tains Craters Volcanic features And of course,
Craters
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Craters
Mountains
Oh I give up!
Highlands
Mare
Mare
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Mare - circular edges Impact basins that filled
with lava!
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Areas without mare Heavily cratered highlands
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Impact made basin (big crater) Lava filled basin
? Mare Later impacts occurred Mare are younger
(newer) than highlands
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Faults
Rille
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Structure of the Moon
Composition of the Moon similar to the Earths
Mantle Very little metal (iron, nickel), mainly
rock
Crust
Mantle
Iron-rich core
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Lunar Crust
Near side
Far side
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Thinner crust on Near Side allows formation of
Mare
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Tidal Effects
Tidal effects - gravity Moon pulls Earth ? Earth
pulls Moon Moons pull ? ocean tides Earths
pull ? slows Moons rotation Tidally locked
one side always faces planet Moons pull ? slows
Earths rotation Earths pull ? slows Moons
orbital velocity Far in the future The Moon
will be very far Earth and Moon both tidally
locked
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Apollo Mission 6 lunar landings 12 people walked
on the Moon (and played golf) 850 pounds of rocks
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All near side landings Lunar rover
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Lunar Rocks
Basalts
Anorthosites
Breccia
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Origin of the Moon
Moons composition Earths Mantle Two large
objects not likely Moon used to be closer, Moon
is younger Possible scenario - the Impact
Theory History of the Moon 4.5 billion years ago
- Moon formed (after Earth) 4.5 - 4 b.y.a. -
large impacts formed basins 3.5 - 3 b.y.a. -
basins filled with lava forming mare 1969-1972 -
Apollo missions