The Earth's Moon
Published in: Science
Transcript
- 1. The Earth’s MoonThe Earth’s Moon
- 2. SatellitesSatellites Satellite: Any body thatSatellite: Any body that orbitsorbits aa larger bodylarger body 1957: First artificial satellite,1957: First artificial satellite, Sputnik,Sputnik, launched by the Sovietslaunched by the Soviets Earth’s onlyEarth’s only naturalnatural satellite is thesatellite is the moon.moon.
- 3. The MoonThe Moon Force of gravity is 1/6Force of gravity is 1/6thth that ofthat of Earth’sEarth’s
- 4. Lack of atmosphere also means that there is a huge temperature range: 134o C in the day, -170o C at night Very little gravity so it has no atmosphere;Very little gravity so it has no atmosphere; therefore it has no weathertherefore it has no weather
- 5. The MoonThe Moon Your weight wouldYour weight would change, but notchange, but not your massyour mass
- 6. The MoonThe Moon 1969-1972: The US sent 61969-1972: The US sent 6 ApolloApollo missions to the moonmissions to the moon
- 7. Moon rotates once every 27.3 days, but appears to take 29.5 days. It needs time to “catch up” from the delay crated by the rotation of the earth
- 8. The Lunar SurfaceThe Lunar Surface From youngest to oldest -From youngest to oldest - Rilles : collapsed lava tubesRilles : collapsed lava tubes Maria: dark areas on the moon;Maria: dark areas on the moon; made of solidified lavamade of solidified lava – Remains of ancient volcanoesRemains of ancient volcanoes – Looks like riverbeds but no water everLooks like riverbeds but no water ever on moonon moon Highlands: light areas; created fromHighlands: light areas; created from meteorites hitting the moonmeteorites hitting the moon
- 9. Rilles – collapsed lava tubesRilles – collapsed lava tubes Straight rille Sinous rille
- 10. MariaMaria
- 11. The Lunar SurfaceThe Lunar Surface Craters: bowl-shaped depressions,Craters: bowl-shaped depressions, most from the moons earlymost from the moons early formation; named for famousformation; named for famous scientistsscientists Rays: streaks that extend from theRays: streaks that extend from the impact sitesimpact sites – Most formed 4 billion of years ago from debris that bombarded all other bodies in solar system
- 12. Moon FormationsMoon Formations PBS:PBS: http://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resourchttp://mass.pbslearningmedia.org/resourc e/npls12.sci.ess.eiu.tourmoon/tour-of-the-e/npls12.sci.ess.eiu.tourmoon/tour-of-the- moon/moon/
- 13. Rays - streaksRays - streaks
- 14. Lunar RocksLunar Rocks regolithregolith - layer of dust and ground- layer of dust and ground up rock created from meteoriteup rock created from meteorite impactsimpacts Moons rocks are similar to EarthMoons rocks are similar to Earth rocks –rocks – silicatessilicates
- 15. Galileo Was RightGalileo Was Right From the Earth to the Moon: Part 10From the Earth to the Moon: Part 10 – Gathering of lunar rocksGathering of lunar rocks
- 16. Interior of the MoonInterior of the Moon Information found usingInformation found using seismographsseismographs Less dense than the interior of theLess dense than the interior of the EarthEarth – Density = mass / volumeDensity = mass / volume
- 17. Interior of the MoonInterior of the Moon Crust is thinner on the Earth-facingCrust is thinner on the Earth-facing sideside Mantle pulled closer on Earth-Mantle pulled closer on Earth- facing side when ancient magmafacing side when ancient magma below surface existed – makingbelow surface existed – making crust thinnercrust thinner
- 18. Interior of the MoonInterior of the Moon Core – made of ironCore – made of iron Determined the iron is solid, unlike Earth’sDetermined the iron is solid, unlike Earth’s core, because it is not magneticcore, because it is not magnetic Lack of magnetism is due to lack ofLack of magnetism is due to lack of convectionconvection
- 19. Moon’s crustMoon’s crust
- 20. Current Theory of Moon’sCurrent Theory of Moon’s CreationCreation Giant impact theory: formed whenGiant impact theory: formed when a Mars-sized object struck thea Mars-sized object struck the EarthEarth – Fragments ejected from the EarthFragments ejected from the Earth (mostly less dense crust and mantle)(mostly less dense crust and mantle) – Eventually formed moonEventually formed moon Explains why the moon is lessExplains why the moon is less dense than the Earthdense than the Earth
- 21. Impact TheoryImpact Theory
- 22. Impact TheoryImpact Theory Supported by moon rocksSupported by moon rocks – Anothrocite – “Genisis Rock”Anothrocite – “Genisis Rock” – Chemical analysis of the Genesis Rock indicated it is an anorthosite, composed mostly of a type of plagioclase feldspar – formed in the early stages of the solar system, at least 4 billion years ago. – recovered in a crater of the Moon, near other rocks of its kind.
- 23. Genesis RockGenesis Rock
- 24. Impact TheoryImpact Theory 11stst phase: Mars-sized object struckphase: Mars-sized object struck the Earththe Earth 22ndnd phase: moon was covered withphase: moon was covered with molten lava – densest materialmolten lava – densest material moved to the centermoved to the center 33rdrd phase: meteorite impactphase: meteorite impact “punches” through thin crust; liquid“punches” through thin crust; liquid rock seeps throughrock seeps through Current phase: less loose materialCurrent phase: less loose material in solar system; only rayed cratersin solar system; only rayed craters
- 25. http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=WGTBJHFNywIv=WGTBJHFNywI
- 26. Impact TheoryImpact Theory
- 27. New Theory (2012)New Theory (2012) Impact of Mars-sizedImpact of Mars-sized meteoritemeteorite (Theia)(Theia) notnot likelylikely New study of samples of the Moon areNew study of samples of the Moon are virtually identical with the Earthvirtually identical with the Earth Studied titanium isotopesStudied titanium isotopes Meteorite sample shown extremelyMeteorite sample shown extremely diverse titanium isotope compositiondiverse titanium isotope composition
- 28. New Theory (2012)New Theory (2012) Scientists theorize that Theia might haveScientists theorize that Theia might have been made solely of icebeen made solely of ice Or that a proto-Earth was spinning muchOr that a proto-Earth was spinning much faster, allowing more mixing offaster, allowing more mixing of compositioncomposition