The Moon, which is the biggest and brightest object in our night sky, helps to stabilize the Earth's axial wobble, which keeps the planet's climate relatively stable and improves the quality of life for all living things. Also brought on by it are tides, which produce a rhythm that has served as a compass for people for countless years. This object is thought to have been formed when a massive rock collided with the earth. It was 1610 when the Moon was found. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the moon to keep you reading if our astronomical friend piques your curiosity.
1 - Moon formed as a result of a violent collision.
1 - Moon formed as a result of a violent collision.
Recent research appears to confirm that the Moon is made of crustal material from the early Earth. The dinosaur extinction event would have been 100 million times larger than the Moon, which was created roughly 4.6 billion years ago.
2 - You see the same side of the moon every time.
2 - You see the same side of the moon every time.
The Moon revolves around its axis much like the Earth does, but because this rotation only lasts around 27 days, or roughly the same amount of time as the 27.32 days it takes for the Moon to orbit the Earth, you can only view one side of the Moon at a time. According to Massey, this phenomenon—also known as "tidal locking" or "caught rotation"—means that the other side of the Moon was totally unseen before the Space Age. The far side is more cratered and rocky, with a thicker crust and fewer signs of volcanic activity, in contrast to the near side, which features lunar maria—large, dark plains that frequently conceal impact basins.
3 - Moon water has been discovered by scientists.
3 - Moon water has been discovered by scientists.
4 - Surface temperatures that are higher than the boiling point
According to Massey, the Moon's surface endures extreme temperatures, ranging from extremely cold on the far side, which is known as the "night," to over-boiling on the near side, which is known as the "sunny." NASA claims that the temperature of the Moon can range from 123 degrees Celsius to -233 degrees Celsius. Its average surface temperature ranges from -153 degrees Celsius at night to 107 degrees Celsius during the day.
5 - The moon has no atmosphere.
5 - The moon has no atmosphere.
The moon lacks an atmosphere in comparison to the Earth. This implies that the Moon experiences significant temperature changes and is not shielded from solar winds, meteorites, or cosmic rays. On the moon, there is no atmosphere, so there is no sound, and the sky is permanently dark.
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6 - Moon dust that resembles gunpowder
The Apollo astronauts discovered their suits were covered in dust after entering their lunar modules, according to Massey, because there was a lot of dust on the moon's surface. A member of the Apollo 17 crew named Harrison "Jack" Schmitt compared the scent to the smell of gunpowder. Some astronauts experienced 'lunar hay fever' as a result of the dust. It took several days to get rid of the congestion and sneezing.
7 - Quakes can also be felt on the moon.
7 - Quakes can also be felt on the moon.
They result from the Earth's gravitational attraction. During their missions to the Moon, lunar astronauts used seismographs and discovered that tiny moonquakes frequently occurred several kilometers below the surface, resulting in ruptures and fissures. Similar to the Earth, scientists believe that the Moon has a molten core.
8 - The Bleeding Moon's Hidden Truth
The moon may actually change to a spooky shade of red under the appropriate circumstances, as several people saw in late September 2015. Despite werewolf warnings and end-of-the-world warnings, the so-called "blood" moon occurs when the earth casts a rust-colored shadow across the moon's surface.
9 - The moon is located 280,000 miles away from Earth.
9 - The moon is located 280,000 miles away from Earth.
The moon was around 14,000 miles away when it was formed. This is proof that the moon is gradually separating from the Earth. It is vanishing at a pace of around 3.78 cm per year, which is comparable to the growth of a human fingernail.
10 - In our solar system, the Moon is the fifth-largest satellite.
10 - In our solar system, the Moon is the fifth-largest satellite.
The Moon is the fifth biggest satellite in the Solar System after the satellites of Saturn, Titan, and Jupiter's Callisto and Io.