Download Eclipses & Features of the Moon

Eclipses
&
Features of
the Moon
Eclipses
• The revolution of the moon not only
causes the phases of the moon but
also is the cause of eclipses.
• The moon's orbit is not in the same
plane as the Earth's orbit around
the sun so eclipses only happen a
few times a year.
SOLAR ECLIPSE
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon
moves directly between the Sun and Earth
and casts its shadow over part of the Earth.
LUNAR ECLIPSE
A lunar eclipse occurs when the
Moon moves into the Earth's
shadow.
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEdecade/LEdecade2011.html
The Moon
• The moon is 1/4th the size of the Earth.
• The moon has 1/6th the gravity of the
Earth.
• The moon has NO atmosphere so there
is no weather or wind.
• The surface has craters, maria, and
highlands.
Craters
• The moon is very heavily
cratered because it does NOT
have an atmosphere to protect
it from meteoroids.
• Craters are a bowl-shaped
depression with a raised rim,
formed by the impact of a
meteoroid.
Maria
• Maria are smooth dark
regions on the surface of the
moon.
• Maria were formed when a
crater was formed a very long
time ago and molten material
seeped into the crater and
eventually cooled.
Highlands
• Highlands are hilly
areas on the moon
covered with craters.
Inside The Moon
A ~ The core may be made
of iron and is believed to
be solid.
B ~ The mantle is believed
to be solid closer to the
surface and molten lower
down.
C ~ The crust is the outer
layer and may be 60km
thick.
The Moon's Origin
1. Capture Theory ~ The
moon was "captured" by
the Earth's gravity and
pulled into our orbit.
2. Condensed Theory ~
The moon formed
separately at the same
time the earth was
formed.
The Moon's Origin
3. Impact Theory ~
1. A "Mars" sized object hit
the Earth.
2. Debris flew off from the
Earth.
3. A ring of gas and debris
formed around the Earth.
4. Particles in the ring
joined together to form the
Moon.