5. Reaching for Moon
• most knowledge about moon comes from space
explorations by space probes
6. Reaching for Moon
• most knowledge about moon comes from space
explorations by space probes
• Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first men to
step on moon
10. Lunar Properties
• one of largest moons (compared to size of
planet it orbits)
• moon relatively further from earth than most
moons are from planets they orbit
11. Lunar Properties
• one of largest moons (compared to size of
planet it orbits)
• moon relatively further from earth than most
moons are from planets they orbit
• solid, rocky body
12. Lunar Properties
• one of largest moons (compared to size of
planet it orbits)
• moon relatively further from earth than most
moons are from planets they orbit
• solid, rocky body
• only large moon among inner planets
24. Surface Features
• Q: Why does moon have craters, while earth
has few?
• A: Erosion on earth has eliminated traces of all
but younger craters; on moon, craters present
until one impact covers another
27. History of Moon
• age b/w 3.8 and 4.6 billion years old
• have regolith b/c of being bombarded heavily
by space objects
28. History of Moon
• age b/w 3.8 and 4.6 billion years old
• have regolith b/c of being bombarded heavily
by space objects
• regolith - layer of loose, ground-up rock
29. History of Moon
• age b/w 3.8 and 4.6 billion years old
• have regolith b/c of being bombarded heavily
by space objects
• regolith - layer of loose, ground-up rock
• maria slightly younger than highlands
33. Tectonics on Moon?
• Q: Is the moon tectonically active?
• A: Has moonquakes, but theorize that NOT
tectonically active b/c no volcanos and no
significant magnetic field
35. Capture Theory
• as solar system forming, large object ventured
too near to forming earth, became trapped by
gravitational pull, and formed into moon
36. Capture Theory
• as solar system forming, large object ventured
too near to forming earth, became trapped by
gravitational pull, and formed into moon
• something needed to slow down object to be
trapped
37. Capture Theory
• as solar system forming, large object ventured
too near to forming earth, became trapped by
gravitational pull, and formed into moon
• something needed to slow down object to be
trapped
• earth and moon composed of very similar
materials
39. Simultaneous Formation
• moon and earth formed at same time and in
same general areas thus materials they are
formed from are essentially the same
40. Simultaneous Formation
• moon and earth formed at same time and in
same general areas thus materials they are
formed from are essentially the same
• does NOT account for different amounts of
iron on earth and moon
42. Impact Theory
• moon formed as result of gigantic collision w/
earth by mars sized object when solar system
was forming
• materials from earth’s outer layers ejected into
space and merged together to form moon
