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Explanation of features and characteristics of our Moon - Succeed in Physical Science. Also refer to physics, astronomy, orbit, phases, craters, diameter, distance, temperature, gravity, orbit, ellipse, astronaut, lunatic, tides, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions

Characteristics of our Moon

by Ron Kurtus (revised 18 December 2005)

A moon is a large body or mass or material that orbits around a planet. It is usually much smaller than the planet. The Earth has only one moon, while Mars has two moons and Jupiter has 9 moons. Our Moon is only about 1/4 the diameter of the Earth. Its gravity affects the Earth's tides. The Moon looks bright at night because of sunlight that is reflected off its surface. It has some distinct surface features that can be seen with the naked eye. Astronauts examined the surface more closely during Moon landings.

Questions you may have include:

• What are some of the features and characteristics of the Moon?
• What is the gravity on the Moon?
• What are the major features of the Moon's surface?

This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.

Useful tools: Metric-English Conversion | Scientific Calculator.

Note: If you want to hear the text being read, click the Play button. It takes a few seconds for the sound to start. The voices are somewhat mechanical for computer use.

Time = 5 min. 40 sec.

Physical characteristics

Characteristics of the Moon include its distance from the Earth, size, mass, density, and temperature.

Our Moon

Distance

The Moon is approximately 384,400 km (239,000 miles) from the Earth.

A radio signal from the Earth and bounced off the Moon's surface back to Earth would take approximately 2 seconds. Communication with an astronaut on the Moon would thus have a several second pause between a question and an answer.

Size

The diameter of the Moon is 3479 kilometers (2162 miles). This is about 1/4 the diameter of the Earth (12,756 kilometers or 7,926 miles).

Mass

The mass of the Moon is 7.35*10²² kilograms, which is about 1/80 of the mass of the Earth. (10²² is 10 times itself 21 times or 1 followed by 22 zeros.)

Density

The density of the Moon is 3340 kg/m³.

Density problem

Can you verify the density of the Moon?

Density = mass divided by volume, d = m/V.

The volume of a sphere = 4/3 times pi times its radius cubed, V = 4*π*r³/3.

Temperature

The average temperature on the surface of the Moon during the day is 107°C. That is hot enough to boil water on the Earth. During the night, the average temperature drops to -153°C.

Motion

The Moon rotates around the Earth in an elliptical orbit every 27.3 days. The same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. Due to the angle of the Sun on the Moon, we see different portions of Moon illuminated. These are called the phases of the Moon.

(See Motion of the Moon and Phases of the Moon for more information.)

Gravity

Because of its smaller size and mass, the gravity of the Moon is about 1/6 the gravity on the Earth. That means that a person who weighs 180 pounds on Earth would only weigh 30 pounds, if measured on the Moon. That is why when the astronauts were on the Moon, they were able to jump so high—even while wearing the heavy space suit.

Moon causes tides

The force of gravity from the Moon affects the Earth. Its gravity reaches the Earth and pulls the oceans toward the Moon, causing the tides. The gravity from the Sun also affects the tides. The highest tides will always occur when the Moon and Sun are aligned. That is when there is a New Moon or a Full Moon.

Moon influences lunatics

There are even people who seem to be affected by the gravity of the moon. They are called "lunatics" from the Latin word luna, meaning moon. There are stories about people who are so affected by the moon that they turn into werewolves. Of course, that is fiction (I think).

Major features

The Moon shines at night, due to sunlight that is reflected off its surface.

Craters

The major features we can see on the Moon are its craters. These have apparently been caused by the impact from meteors over millions of years. Exploding volcanoes on the Moon also caused some craters.

You can see the craters on the Moon's surface

You can see the outlines of major craters on the Moon with your naked eye. The configuration almost looks like a face. Thus, they call it "the man in the Moon."

Moon landings

Much information about the surface of the Moon came from experiments United States astronauts made when they landed on the Moon in 1969. The United States landed men on the Moon six times between 1969 and 1972. Since then, no one else has landed on the Moon.

Summary

Our Moon is only about 1/4 the diameter of the Earth, has less gravity and has craters on its surface that can be seen with the naked eye. The Moon looks bright at night because of sunlight that is reflected off its surface. American astronauts landed on the Moon between 1969 and 1972.

Answers to Readers' Questions

Shoot for the Moon with your goals and plans

Resources

The following resources provide information on this subject:

Websites

Facts About the Moon - From NASA

The Moon - Good details from Nine Planets site

The Moon - Information and statistics from Russian version of American website

Astronomy Resources

Books

From Blue Moons To Black Holes: A Basic Guide To Astronomy, Outer Space, And Space Exploration by Melanie Melton Knocke; Prometheus Books (2005) $19.00

Observing the Moon by Peter T. Wlasuk; Springer (2000) $39.95 - Reference book for anyone seriously interested in the Moon and its geology

Welcome to the Moon: Twelve Lunar Expeditions for Small Telescopes by Robert Bruce Kelsey; Naturegraph Publishers (1997) $11.95 - Well written "how to" for novice astronomers

Top-rated books on the Moon

Miscellaneous

Mini-quiz to check your understanding

1. How does the size of the Moon compare with that of Earth?

2. How does gravity from the Moon affect the Earth?

3. Has anyone ever been on the Moon?

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Physical Science. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

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Characteristics of our Moon