|
1. What is the Moon?
The Moon is a sphere of cold rock.
It is much smaller than the Earth. The Moon is a satellite
of the Earth. It circles around the Earth as the Earth circles
around the Sun. Since the Moon is cold, it does not shine with light of its own. We can see it only when the Sun is shining on it or when sunlight is reflected on it from the Earth. The Moon has no atmosphere and no water. There are no rains, no smells. There is no life on the Moon.
more questions on the Moon >>>
2. How far from the Earth is the Moon?
The Moon's distance from the Earth is from 406,740 kilometres when the Moon is in apogee - farthest from the Earth - to 356,410 kilometres when the Moon is in perigee - nearest to the Earth. The mean distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384,400 kilometres.
more questions on the Moon >>>
3. How big is the Moon?
The diameter of the Moon is 3,476
kilometres. This is a little more than one quarter of the diameter of the Earth. The surface of the Moon is about 1/14 of
the surface of the Earth. Its volume is about 1/50 of the
Earth's volume. The mass of the Moon is 1/81 of the mass
of the Earth.
more questions on the Moon >>>
4. Does the Moon have a day and night?
Yes. The Moon
rotates upon its axis in 29.53 Earth days. That is the length
of the Moon's day. So that it has about 15 Earth days of light
and then 15 Earth days of darkness at any one place upon its
surface.
more questions on the Moon >>>
5. How fast does the Moon travel around the Earth?
The Moon moves in its orbit at 3,700 kilometres per hour. It travels faster when it is in perigee - nearer the Earth - and slower when it is in apogee - farther from the Earth.
more questions on the Moon >>>
6. What is the greatest effect that the Moon has upon the Earth?
The greatest effect that the Moon has upon the Earth
is in the tides, which the gravitational pull of the Moon
helps to raise in the waters of the Earth. There is a very
small change in atmospheric pressure which is also caused by
the gravitational pull of the Moon. There are small changes
in terrestrial magnetism which are caused by changes in the
position of the Moon with relation to the Earth.
more questions on the Moon >>>
7. What is the shape of the Moon's orbit?
The Moon's orbit, like every orbit in space, is an ellipse.
more questions on the Moon >>>
8. How long does it take the Moon to go around the Earth?
It takes 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes, 11.47 seconds. This
is an average time. In fact, the time of the Moon from one
point in the sky back to the same point may vary by as much
as 7 hours. This period of time is in relation to the stars. A more useful timing of the Moon's journey around the Earth
is the interval between one new Moon and the next. It takes
the Moon, again on an average, 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, 2.78 seconds to go from one phase to the same phase again. This period may vary by as much as 13 hours.
more questions on the Moon >>>
| 
