7.2 EARTH AND MOON

HOW DO THE EARTH AND MOON INTERACT? The Moon orbits around Earth.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SHAPE OF THE MOON DURING THE MONTH? The Moon appears to change shape as it goes through its phases.

THE MOON Who was the first person to walk on the moon? Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, July 20, The Moon has no atmosphere. Due to this fact, there are no winds and no weather. There is also no air for astronauts to breathe. The temperature on the Moon can reach 253 degrees F and drop as low as -451 degrees F.

WHAT DO ASTRONAUTS NEED IN ORDER TO SURVIVE ON THE MOON? They need spacesuits that help protect them from the changes in temperature and from radiation. They also need containers of oxygen so they are able to breathe.

THE SURFACE OF THE MOON There are craters on the Moon caused by rocks traveling through space that hit the surface. There are Plains that cover parts of the moon. The plains are called Maria which means “seas”. Rills, which are valleys, cut grooves in the Moon’s surface. Mountains also cover part of the Moon’s surface.

PHASES OF THE MOON The Moon has several phases. A phase of the Moon is the appearance and shape of the Moon as you see it at a particular time. Phases depend on the Moon’s location in relation to Earth and the Sun. The time from one phase of the Moon until the next time the Moon reaches the same phase is 29.5 days. We can see the part of the Moon’s surface that is lit by the sunlight. The side of the Moon that faces the Sun is always lit by sunlight. As the Moon revolves around Earth, different amounts of light reflect from the Moon’s surface and the Moon appears to change shape. When we observe the Moon during the full Moon phase, we can see the entire half of the Moon that is lit by sunlight. During the New Moon phase, the lit side of the Moon is facing away from Earth.

ECLIPSES An eclipse occurs when one object moves in front of another object in space.

TYPES OF ECLIPSES Solar Eclipse- Occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun. The Moon casts a shadow on Earth. People on Earth see darkness move across the Sun. This can only take place during a new moon phase. Lunar Eclipse- Occurs when the Moon moves into Earth’s shadow and is no longer reached by direct sunlight. This happens when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. Lunar eclipses only occur during full moon phases.

ECLIPSES Eclipses occur much less frequently than a full moon and new moon phases. So, why do eclipses not occur once a month with these moon phases? Eclipses do not occur each month because of the orbital differences. The Moon rarely travels exactly between Earth and the Sun. An umbra is an area where sunlight is completely blocked. A penumbra is an area around an umbra where light is not completely blocked.

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE The shadow of the Moon causes the umbra and penumbra during solar eclipses. An umbra during a solar eclipse seen from Earth causes darkness that covers the entire face of the Sun. This is a total solar eclipse. A penumbra during a solar eclipse seen from Earth causes darkness that only covers part of the Sun. This is a partial solar eclipse.

TIDES Does the Earth have a bulge??? Yes. The pull of gravity between Earth and the Moon and between Earth and the Sun causes a bulge in the surface of Earth. This pull or bulge caused by gravity can be seen in the oceans and large bodies of water. This is what causes the tide. A tide is the rise and fall of the ocean’s surface. High tides occur on the side of Earth that faces the Moon and on the opposite side of the Moon as the pull of gravity causes the water to bulge. Both locations will have high tides at the same time. Between the two high tides, low tides occur. As Earth rotates, these bulges move across the oceans. Most oceans have two high tides and two low tides every day.

SPRING AND NEAP TIDES Spring Tides- Higher high tides and lower low tides caused by the Sun and Moon being lined up and pulling in the same direction. Usually occurs two times a month around the New Moon and Full Moon phases. Neap Tides- High tides that are lower than usual and low tides that are higher than usual. The Sun and the Moon pull in different directions and their pulls cancel each other. Neap tides occur during the first quarter and last quarter.

LET’S REVIEW! What causes the marks on the Moon’s surface? They are craters caused by impacts from rocks in space that collide with the Moon. Where does the light that shines from the Moon come from? It is light from the Sun that reflects off the Moon’s surface.

STARTING WITH A FULL MOON, WHAT ARE THE PHASES OF THE MOON DURING A MONTH? Full moon Waning gibbous moon Last quarter moon Waning crescent moon New moon Waxing crescent moon First quarter moon Waxing gibbous moon Full moon (again)

HOW DOES THE MOON CHANGE DURING THE WAXING AND WANING PHASES? During the waxing part of the Moon’s cycle, the visible part of the Moon increases. During the waning part of the Moon’s cycle, the visible part of the moon decreases.

WHAT EVENT CAUSES A SOLAR ECLIPSE? The Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun. What happens during a lunar eclipse? The moon moves into earth’s shadow and Earth, the Sun, and the Moon are aligned. When does a lunar eclipse occur? Only during a full moon phase.

IN A SOLAR ECLIPSE, WHAT ARE THE POSITIONS OF EARTH, THE SUN, AND THE MOON? The Moon is between Earth and the Sun What would you see if you were on the Moon’s surface during a lunar eclipse? You would see a solar eclipse, with Earth passing in front of the Sun.

WHAT PARTS OF EARTH EXPERIENCE HIGH TIDES? As the Moon orbits Earth, high tides occur on the side of Earth facing the Moon and the side of Earth opposite the Moon.

WHERE ARE EARTH, THE SUN, AND THE MOON DURING A NEAP TIDE? Neap tides occur when the gravities of the Sun and the Moon are not pulling in the same directions. This occurs during first quarter and last quarter moon phases. Earth, the Sun, and the Moon form a right angle during neap tides.

WHAT MAKES SPRING TIDES AND NEAP TIDES OCCUR TWICE A MONTH? As the Moon rotates throughout a month, twice a month the Moon either lines up with the Sun (full and new moons), which causes spring tides, or is in a position where its pull of gravity opposes the Sun (first quarter and last quarter), which causes neap tides twice a month.

moon song