Source: http://www.thelivingmoon.com/43ancients/02files/Ceres_Dwarf_Planet.html
How was the Moon formed?
The Giant Impact Theory
According to this theory, the Moon was created from the debris ejected by an impact of a huge object (of the size of today's Mars) on our planet, about 4.53 billion years ago, when a molten Earth was still cooling down. Hence, formation of Moon is quite intimately connected to how was the Earth created. Let us understand how was the Moon formed from collision of young Earth with this huge Mars sized object (named Theia after the Greek Goddess who gave birth to Moon Goddess Selena, in Greek Mythology).
How old is the Moon?
The moon is about 4 and a half billion years old.
Why does the Moon only show one side to us all of the time?
The speed at which the Moon rotates has lead to this particular phenomenon. Millions of years ago, the Moon spun at a much faster pace than it does now. However, the gravitational influence of the Earth has gradually acted upon the Moon to slow its rotation down, in the same way that the much smaller gravitational influence of the Moon acts upon the Earth to create tides. This influence slowed the rotational period of the Moon to match that of its orbit – about 29.5 days – and it is now "locked in" to this period.
The Moon is slowly drifting away from us, by how much per year?
It drifts away at a rate around 3.8cm per year
Explain what will eventually happen to it
The rate at which the moon is moving away isn't fixed. It's not falling out of orbit, it's moving into a higher orbit. The moon can not leave orbit because the amount of kinetic energy in the earth moon system isn't enough to fling it free. Eventually the rate of ascent will drop down. The earth will be tidally locked relative to the moon and it will always face the same side of the earth as we spin around the sun.
How much larger is the Sun than the Moon?
The sun is about 400 times the size of the Moon
What natural phenomenon does this ratio help to observe?
Source:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K42UqWGdA_o
A Solar Eclipse
How far away is the Moon?
400500 km from earth
What was significant about the 19th March 2011 (regarding the Moon)?
The moon passed by the earth the closest it ever has in history
Why is there no atmosphere on the Moon?
There is no atmosphere on the Moon because it does not have sufficient gravity to hold an atmosphere to it's surface.
Why is the gravity on the Moon 1/6th than of Earth?
This is because the mass of the moon is much less than the mass of the earth.
How many people have stepped on the Moon? Who was the last?
Twelve, all Americans. Two each from Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17.
12 astronauts landed on the Moon in 6 Apollo missions. In 1972 the last were: John Young (41), Charles Duke (36), Eugene Cernan (38), Harrison Schmitt (37
Why does the Moon orbit the Earth?
It is in orbit because the gravity of the earth keeps the moon attracted.
How many days does it take to orbit?
It takes 29 days to orbit.
What effect does the Moon have on the Earth?
The moon effects the earth in two ways. The first one is that the moons position on the earth lets it reflect some of the suns light into our night . The moons orbit around the earth lasts about one month giving us different levels of light. The 'new moon' has little light to offer and the 'full moon' provides us with the best lighting. The second effect comes from the moon's gravitational pull on the earth. As the earth rotates, the moon's pull causes the world's bodies of water to experience 'high tides.' At a given time there are two high tides on earth. In addition, the moon also mainly affects the climate on earth.
Other planets have moons, find images of those moons
