Our Our MarvelousMarvelous MOONMOON

Sarah WhiteSarah White

VoilaVoila, La Lune, La Lune FormationFormation Physical featuresPhysical features Lunar CycleLunar Cycle Ocean TidesOcean Tides EclipsesEclipses

Moon Formation TheoriesMoon Formation Theories Fission TheoryFission Theory

Moon breaks off from EarthMoon breaks off from Earth Problems?Problems?

Earth rotation too slowEarth rotation too slow

Capture TheoryCapture Theory Earth’s gravitational pullEarth’s gravitational pull Problems?Problems?

Need extended Earth atmosphereNeed extended Earth atmosphere

Giant Impact TheoryGiant Impact Theory Proto-Earth is hitProto-Earth is hit

Accretion forms moonAccretion forms moon Problems?Problems?

Undetermined relative sizesUndetermined relative sizes

Physical FeaturesPhysical Features

DiameterDiameter 3.5 km3.5 km ( (1/4 Earth1/4 Earth))

Surface AreaSurface Area < .1% of Earth< .1% of Earth

Orbital PeriodOrbital Period 27.3 days27.3 days

Surface GravitySurface Gravity 17% of Earth17% of Earth

So what is so special about the moon, anyways?

Lunar CycleLunar Cycle Repeats every Repeats every 29.5 days29.5 days SynodicSynodic Period Period

Harvest MoonHarvest Moon

WaningWaning Decreasing sizeDecreasing size

WaxingWaxing Increasing sizeIncreasing size

Ocean TidesOcean Tides

High TideHigh Tide Two “bulges”Two “bulges”

Elevated Sea LevelElevated Sea Level

Low TideLow Tide Water rushes to Water rushes to

bulgesbulges

Earth RotationEarth Rotation Friction on seafloorFriction on seafloor

Solar EclipseSolar Eclipse

• Moon is between Earth & Sun

www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov

Lunar EclipseLunar Eclipse

EarthEarth is between Moon & is between Moon & SunSun

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?