1. Scaling Lunar Features to Your Area

2. What are the four theories of how the Moon formed? The Sisters Theory The Earth and Moon formed the same time that the whole Solar System formed over 4.5 billion years ago. The masses of gas and dust formed two spinning bodies that became the Earth and Moon. Daughter Theory Dust and gas formed the Earth. During this process it began to spin very fast. Earth spun so fast that a blob was flung off into Earth’s orbit and formed the Moon. Big Impact Theory Earth collided with a large object, possibly the size of Mars, early in it’s history. The impact ejected a large quantity of matter into space. It began to orbit Earth and over time, these fragmented pieces of matter formed the Moon. Capture Theory Early in the formation of the Solar System, a small planetesimal passed by Earth so close that that gravity pulled the small, fully formed planet into orbit. The Moon was “captured.”

3. Scientists have a theory for Maria formation. They believe that they were once giant impact craters called basins and then something happened to them. https://www.fossweb.com/delegate/ssi-foss- ucm/Contribution%20Folders/FOSS/multimedia_ms_ 1E/PlanetaryScience/binders/cr_formation_2_1_t.htm https://www.fossweb.com/delegate/ssi-foss- ucm/Contribution%20Folders/FOSS/multimedia_ms_ 1E/PlanetaryScience/binders/cr_formation_2_1_t.htm

4. An impact makes a huge crater. The force of the impact shatters the Moon’s mantle deep into the interior. Much later (hundreds of millions of years) molten magma deep inside the Moon flows up, filling in the bottom of the basin from below. The lava hardens into basalt, a smooth, dark rock that formed the surfaces of the maria we see today.

5. Photo shows how the maria could have formed on the Moon with many overlapping impacts. Write a paragraph that describes how you think maria forms on the moon. You MUST cite evidence/proof as to why you believe this to be true. You will be graded on the quality of your argument. Due at the end of class.