1. The Moon – Earth’s Natural Satellite

2. What is a satellite?
Satellite – an object that orbits a more massive object
Ex: The Moon
Ex: Moons of other planets
Many of the planets have satellites

3. The moon stays in place because of Earth’s gravity
There is 240,000 miles separating Earth and the Moon
About the size from New York to LA 100 times
If a plane took us to the moon it would take us 20 days
It took space ships about three days
We only see one side of the moon

4. Different Parts of the Moon
The side of the moon that we see is referred to as the near side of the moon
Most of this side of the moon is the dark colored features, with some white features
The side looking away from Earth is called the far side of the moon
Most of this side of the moon is the light color that we see, with very few black spots

5. Sides of the Moon

6. Layers of the Moon
Crust, just like earth it is only about 40 miles thick
Mantle, makes up most of the Moon, made of iron and magnesium
Core, material from here did not reach the Moon’s surface, so we do not know much about it.

7. Parts of the moon Mare – The dark area on the moon
The Latin word for sea
Highlands – The light colored areas on the moon
These areas are higher in altitude than mare
The moon has no atmosphere

8. Craters
The highlands on the moon have many round features on them, these are called impact craters
Space “junk” hit the moon and left these holes
These collisions happened quite frequently when the solar system was forming, not as frequently today

9. Craters
Some impact craters filled with molten rock, or lava from beneath the Moon’s surface
The lava eventually filled some of the craters, hardened, and this is what we see as mare

10. How did it form? Earth and Moon have similar crusts and mantles.
Scientists think that two space bodies hit each other.
1. Most of the material formed Earth’s core
2. Little bits and pieces formed Earth and Moon’s crust and mantle
3. Pieces that were left formed into the moon and started to orbit earth
Happened quickly – only about a year!