Our Marvelous MOON

Sarah White

Voila, La Lune

Formation

Physical features

Lunar Cycle

Ocean Tides

Eclipses

Moon Formation Theories

Fission Theory Moon breaks off from Earth

Problems? Earth rotation too slow

Capture Theory Earth’s gravitational pull

Problems? Need extended Earth atmosphere

Giant Impact Theory Proto-Earth is hit

Accretion forms moon

Problems? Undetermined relative sizes

Physical Features

Diameter 3.5 km (1/4 Earth)

Surface Area < .1% of Earth

Orbital Period 27.3 days

Surface Gravity 17% of Earth

So what is so special about the

moon, anyways?

Lunar Cycle

Repeats every 29.5 days

Synodic Period

Harvest Moon

Waning

Decreasing size

Waxing

Increasing size

Ocean Tides

High Tide

Two “bulges”

Elevated Sea Level

Low Tide

Water rushes to

bulges

Earth Rotation

Friction on seafloor

Solar Eclipse

• Moon is between Earth & Sun

www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov

Lunar Eclipse

Earth is between Moon & Sun

www.starryskies.com

Alright moon experts, what would happen to Earth if the moon’s orbital path was closer to

Earth than it is now?