The Moon has a very thin and weak atmosphere called an exosphere. The moon's weak atmosphere and its lack of liquid water cannot support life as we know it. Twelve human beings have been known to walk on the moon. The first was Neil Armstrong. The mass of the moon is 734767309245735000000000kg. The moon makes a complete orbit around Earth in 27 Earth days and rotates / spins in that same amount of time, or at the same rate. This causes the moon to keep the same face towards the Earth during the course of orbit. The moon is round and rocky, as well as having many mountains.
The Moon in its different phases.
The Moon is a sphere which travels once around the Earth every 29 days. As it does so, it is illuminated from varying angles by the Sun. At New Moon, the Moon is between the Earth and Sun, so that the side of the Moon facing towards us receives no direct sunlight, and is only lit by dim sunlight reflected from the Earth. As it moves around the Earth, the side we can see gradually becomes more illuminated by direct sunlight.
After a week, the Moon is 90° away from the Sun in the sky and is half illuminated, what we call First Quarter because it is about a quarter of the way around the Earth.
A week after this, the Moon is 180° away from the Sun, so that Sun, Earth and Moon form a line. The Moon is fully illuminated by the Sun, so this is called Full Moon. The Earth's shadow points towards the Moon at this time, but usually the Moon passes above or below the shadow and no eclipse occurs.
A week later the Moon has moved another quarter of the way around the Earth, to the Third Quarter position. The Sun's light is now shining on the other half of the visible face of the Moon.
Finally, a week later, the Moon is back to its New Moon starting position. Usually it passes above or below the Sun, but occasionally it passes right in front of the Sun, and we get an eclipse of the Sun.
The Moon's phases are NOT caused by the shadow of the Earth falling on the Moon.To be precise, the shadow of the Earth only falls on the Moon twice a year when there is a lunar eclipse.
The Moon is a sphere which travels once around the Earth every 29 days. As it does so, it is illuminated from varying angles by the Sun. At New Moon, the Moon is between the Earth and Sun, so that the side of the Moon facing towards us receives no direct sunlight, and is only lit by dim sunlight reflected from the Earth. As it moves around the Earth, the side we can see gradually becomes more illuminated by direct sunlight.
After a week, the Moon is 90° away from the Sun in the sky and is half illuminated, what we call First Quarter because it is about a quarter of the way around the Earth.
A week after this, the Moon is 180° away from the Sun, so that Sun, Earth and Moon form a line. The Moon is fully illuminated by the Sun, so this is called Full Moon. The Earth's shadow points towards the Moon at this time, but usually the Moon passes above or below the shadow and no eclipse occurs.
A week later the Moon has moved another quarter of the way around the Earth, to the Third Quarter position. The Sun's light is now shining on the other half of the visible face of the Moon.
Finally, a week later, the Moon is back to its New Moon starting position. Usually it passes above or below the Sun, but occasionally it passes right in front of the Sun, and we get an eclipse of the Sun.
The Moon's phases are NOT caused by the shadow of the Earth falling on the Moon.To be precise, the shadow of the Earth only falls on the Moon twice a year when there is a lunar eclipse.
THE FIRST MAN ON THE MOON!!!!
nEIL ARMSTRONG, THE FIRST MAN ON THE MOON, BROKE THE HEADLINES WHEN HE SET FOOT ON THE MOON, 1969, AND PLANTED THE AMERICAN FLAG. That brought a lot of glory back to america after Russia beat them in the space race.
aFTER THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE FOLLOWED IN HIS FOOTSTEPS.
One small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind.
- Neil Armstrong 1969