The Moon
Before we set out to explore the Sun and the other planets of the solar system, we must first take a look at the object that is closest to Earth in outer space.The Moon is the closest object to Earth in space. The Moon is 238,900 miles from Earth. That may sound like a very far distance, but it is actually very close to Earth compared to the Sun and other planets in our solar system. As we've talked about in our "Space Explorations" lesson, it is the only other object in space that astronauts have stepped foot on in July of 1969. The Moon's surface is made of "regolith," a name created by scientists to describe the Moon's dusty surface. The Moon does not have an atmosphere or any liquid water on its surface. The moon is called a "satellite" of Earth because it moves around (revolves) the Earth not the Sun. Earth is a "satellite" of the Sun because it moves around (revolves) the Sun. In fact, the Moon moves around the Earth once every 29 days, or about every month. The Moon also spins (rotates) one full turn counter-wise every 29 days. Remember the Earth spins (rotates) once every 24 hours! So the Moon spins much slower than Earth. Take a look at the video below. Notice how the moon revolves around the Earth while the Earth is revolving around the Sun.
The Phases of the Moon.
Have you ever wondered why you can see the whole Moon at some parts of the month and at other times of the month you cannot see it at all? There is actually a reason for this. Remember that the Moon moves around the Earth once every Month. That means that the Moon's position to the Sun changes throughout the month causing the different phases of the Moon. At sometimes in the month, the Sun is shining directly on the side of the Moon that we on Earth see, resulting in a Full Moon. At other times of the month, the Sun is shining on the part of the Moon we do not see from Earth, resulting in a New Moon. This is a tough thing to understand, so don't feel bad if you can't quite picture how this works. Take a look at the videos below which also include some Math that we've learned about this year!
So, the Moon's position to the Sun while it revolves around the Earth causes the phases of the Moon. Remember, the Moon is still there when we cannot see it. The Sun is just shining on the side of the Moon we cannot see because we only see one half of the Moon from Earth. Below are pictures of the eight phases of the Moon and their position to the Sun.
Surf's up! The Moon Causes the Tides at the Beach
It's Summer and you are at your favorite shore point with your family. Several times throughout your vacation you have to move your beach supplies back because your parents say the "tide" is coming into shore. When a tide rises, the water creeps up the sand to places that were dry just hours earlier. When the tide recedes, the water goes back leaving dry beach that were just covered in water hours earlier. Some of you may have heard that the Moon causes these tides. But how? Take a look at the video below.
This older man used food to describe tides. However, his lesson is correct. Earth and the moon are always pulling on each other because of gravity. Gravity is what keeps our feet on the ground on Earth (the Earth is pulling on us), but it is also the pull that exists between objects in outer space. Imagine you have two magnets. You put those two magnets close enough that you could feel them pulling on one another, but you do not let them attach completely. This is what happens between the Earth and the Moon. The bigger the object in space is, the more gravity it has. So Earth has more gravity than the Moon. The Moon's gravity only affects our oceans because it is smaller than the Earth.
Surfers usually enjoy riding when it is high tide because they catch bigger waves. That means surfers are always keeping an eye on the Moon to see when the time is right to ride waves. Check out this awesome video below of a pro surfer taking advantage of the high tide caused by the moon and the abundant water we have on Earth!
Want to know more facts about the Moon? Check out the link below!
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/moon.html
Time For Some Questions
On a piece of paper, answer the questions below.
1) What does the Moon Revolve around?
a) Earth
b) Sun
c) The Moon only spins (rotates). It does not revolve around anything.
2) The Moon does not have an atmosphere. From what we've learned about how important Earth's atmosphere is, what does this say about life being able to survive on the Moon?
a) An atmosphere is not needed for life to survive on an object in space. People will move to the Moon soon.
b) Life cannot survive without an atmosphere. There is no oxygen on the Moon to breath or weather on the Moon to create the water needed for life.
c) Astronauts went to the Moon, so we should be able to live there.
3) Why do we see more of the Moon at certain times of the month than others?
a) Sometimes it is cloudy, so we only see part of the Moon.
b) It depends on what part of the World you are located. (China sees a Full Moon when we see a New Moon)
c) The Moon moves around the Earth. At certain times the Sun shines on the part of the Moon we can see. At other times, it shines on the part of the Moon we cannot see.
4) You are trying to describe why tides happen at the beach to a friend. What example can you use for the Moon and the Earth while explaining it to them?
a) You can use magnets and how they attract one another.
b) You can use bayblades to show how fast Earth moves.
c) There really isn't anyway to explain it, their teacher will have to show them.
5) In the sentence "When the tide recedes, the water goes back leaving dry beach that were just covered in water hours earlier" the term recedes means?
a) runs forward
b) to move backward
c) to stay steady
1) What does the Moon Revolve around?
a) Earth
b) Sun
c) The Moon only spins (rotates). It does not revolve around anything.
2) The Moon does not have an atmosphere. From what we've learned about how important Earth's atmosphere is, what does this say about life being able to survive on the Moon?
a) An atmosphere is not needed for life to survive on an object in space. People will move to the Moon soon.
b) Life cannot survive without an atmosphere. There is no oxygen on the Moon to breath or weather on the Moon to create the water needed for life.
c) Astronauts went to the Moon, so we should be able to live there.
3) Why do we see more of the Moon at certain times of the month than others?
a) Sometimes it is cloudy, so we only see part of the Moon.
b) It depends on what part of the World you are located. (China sees a Full Moon when we see a New Moon)
c) The Moon moves around the Earth. At certain times the Sun shines on the part of the Moon we can see. At other times, it shines on the part of the Moon we cannot see.
4) You are trying to describe why tides happen at the beach to a friend. What example can you use for the Moon and the Earth while explaining it to them?
a) You can use magnets and how they attract one another.
b) You can use bayblades to show how fast Earth moves.
c) There really isn't anyway to explain it, their teacher will have to show them.
5) In the sentence "When the tide recedes, the water goes back leaving dry beach that were just covered in water hours earlier" the term recedes means?
a) runs forward
b) to move backward
c) to stay steady