{2012}
Madison Capps & Nathan Dutton
What’s up Science?!
Volume 1 Issue 1
Volume 1 Issue 1
From Earth to Moon Did the Moon really come from the Earth??
Contents From Earth to Moon ................................... 3 Moon’s Composition .................................. 4 Size & Distance from the Earth ................... 4 Phases of the Moon .................................... 5 Orbit of the Moon ...................................... 7 The Moon Effects the Earth?! ..................... 8 Missions to the Moon ............................... 11
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From Earth to Moon 
There are several theories that are a possible explanation for how the moon was formed. 
The Fission Theory: This theory proposes that the Moon was once part of the Earth and somehow separated from the Earth early in the history of the solar system. The present Pacific Ocean basin is the most popular site for the part of the Earth from which the Moon came. This theory was thought possible since the Moon's composition resembles that of the Earth's mantle and a rapidly spinning Earth could have cast off the Moon from its outer layers. However, the present-day EarthMoon system should contain "fossil evidence" of this rapid spin and it does not. Also, this hypothesis does not have a natural explanation for the extra baking the lunar material has received.

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The Capture Theory: This theory proposes that the Moon was formed somewhere else in the solar system, and was later captured by the gravitational field of the Earth. The Moon's different chemical composition could be explained if it formed elsewhere in the solar system, however, capture into the Moon's present orbit is very improbable. Something would have to slow it down by just the right amount at just the right time, and scientists are reluctant to believe in such "fine tuning". Also, this hypothesis does not have a natural explanation for the extra baking the lunar material has received. The Condensation Theory: This theory proposes that the Moon and the Earth condensed individually from the nebula that formed the solar system, with the Moon formed in orbit around the Earth. However, if the Moon formed in the vicinity of the Earth it should have nearly the same composition. Specifically, it should possess a significant iron core, and it does not. Also, this hypothesis does not have a natural explanation for the extra
baking the lunar material has received.
hours. These vibrations were not expected by the scientists
Moon’s Composition
Size & Distance from the Earth
The moon's composition has been of great interest to scientists. With the collection of moon soil and moon rocks by astronauts, many questions have been able to be answered. Moon soil contains no fossils of plants or animals, but when this soil is placed on earth plants, they seem to grow better. Moon rocks are composed of minerals including aluminum, calcium, magnesium, oxygen, silicon, and titanium. Some gases are also trapped in these rocks, such as hydrogen and helium. These gases are said to have reached the moon by solar wind.
The average distance between Earth and Moon is approximately 30 times Earth's diameter. (see Figure 1 Below) The Moon's diameter is 3,474 km, just over a quarter that of the Earth.
The moon's outer crust seems to be solid and hardy but not much is known about its inner material. When Apollo 13 sent part of the Saturn rocket crashing on to the moon, the result was seismic vibrations which lasted for four
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Figure 1
Phases of the Moon
given points in its orbit. It does not show which side of the Moon is lit by the Sun. The side lit by the Sun is always the side that is pointed toward the Sun, as seen in the Diagram below on left.
The Moon orbit Earth at an average distance of 382,400 kilometers. The lunar month is the 29.53 days it takes to go from one new moon to the next. During the lunar month, the Moon goes through all its phases. You can see the phases drawn in the image below. Just like the Earth, half of the Moon is lit by the Sun while the other half is in darkness. The phases we see result from the angle the Moon makes with the Sun as viewed from Earth. The diagram below on the right is one you typically see in books. Don't let it confuse you. The images of the Moon show what you see the Moon look like from Earth when it is at
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Orbit of the Moon
(in contrast, remember that the Sun only appears to move Eastward by about 1 degree per day). Thus, with respect to the background constellations the Moon will be about 13.2 degrees further East each day. Since the celestial sphere appears to turn 1 degree about every 4 minutes, the Moon crosses our celestial meridian about 13.2 x 4
The Moon appears to move completely around the celestial sphere once in about 27.3 days as observed from the Earth. This is called a sidereal month, and reflects the corresponding orbital period of 27.3 days The moon takes 29.5 days to return to the same point on the celestial sphere as referenced to the Sun because of the motion of the Earth around the Sun; this is called a synodic month (Lunar phases as observed from the Earth are correlated with the synodic month).
= 52.8 minutes later each day.
There are effects that cause small fluctuations around this value that we will not discuss. Since the Moon must move Eastward among the constellations enough to go completely around the sky (360 degrees) in 27.3 days, it must move Eastward by 13.2 degrees each day 7
Figure 1 Watching the tides roll away. These pictures show low (right) and high (left) tides at Bar Harbor, Maine. The tides are one of the most important ways that the Moon affects life on Earth. They are the result of the fact that the Moon's gravitational pull does not affect all parts of Earth equally: The lunar gravity exerts a stronger pull on the parts of Earth that are closer to the Moon. This tugs the oceans ever so slightly toward the Moon. The effect is small - it lifts the surface of the ocean by less than 1 meter -but enough to create a wave that travels around the globe as Earth rotates. As this wave enters shallow coastal waters, it increases in size. Photos courtesy of John Neff, University of Iowa.
The Moon Effects the Earth?! The most obvious effect that the Moon has on Earth is to produce tides (see figure 1). Tides don't just lift boats and uncover clam flats; they have caused profound changes to our world.
Tides occur because the gravitational force between two bodies decreases with distance. Gravitation is the universal force of attraction between all matter. It holds astronomical bodies together 8
and attracts different bodies toward each other. Because gravity tugs on nearby things more strongly than on distant things, the oceans closest to the Moon feel the greatest attraction to the Moon. Being fluid, these nearby oceans move upward in response to the Moon's pull, until there is a balance between the upward force from the Moon and the downward force from Earth. The high tide on the far side of the Earth occurs because these most distant oceans feel the least attraction to the Moon. In essence, they are left behind as the Moon pulls the other parts of Earth toward itself with greater force.
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Missions to the Moon
Luna 6 - Jun 8, 1965 - Attempted Lander Zond 3 - Jul 18, 1965 - Flyby Luna 7 - Oct 4, 1965 - Impact Luna 8 - Dec 3, 1965 - Impact 1966
1959
Luna 9 - Jan 31, 1966 - Lander
Luna 1 - Jan 2, 1959 - Flyby
Luna 10 - Mar 31, 1966 - Orbiter
Pioneer 4 - Mar 3, 1959 - Flyby
Surveyor 1 - May 30, 1966 - Lander
Luna 2 - Sep 12, 1959 - Impact
Lunar Orbiter 1 - Aug 10, 1966 - Orbiter
Luna 3 - Oct 4, 1959 - Probe
Luna 11 - Aug 24, 1966 - Orbiter
1960
Surveyor 2 - Sep 20, 1966 - Attempted
1961
Lander
Ranger 1 - Aug 23, 1961 - Attempted Test Flight
Luna 12 - Oct 22, 1966 - Orbiter Lunar Orbiter 2 - Nov 6, 1966 - Orbiter
Ranger 2 - Nov 18, 1961 - Attempted Test Flight
Luna 13 - Dec 21, 1966 - Lander 1967
1962
Lunar Orbiter 3 - Feb 4, 1967 - Orbiter
Ranger 3 - Jan 26, 1962 - Attempted
Surveyor 3 - Apr 17, 1967 - Lander
Impact Ranger 4 - Apr 23, 1962 - Impact
Lunar Orbiter 4 - May 8, 1967 - Orbiter
Ranger 5 - Oct 18, 1962 - Attempted
Surveyor 4 - Jul 14, 1967 - Attempted Lander
Impact
Explorer 35 (IMP-E) - Jul 19, 1967 -
1963 Orbiter
Luna 4 - Apr 2, 1963 - Flyby
Lunar Orbiter 5 - Aug 1, 1967 - Orbiter
1964
Surveyor 5 - Sep 8, 1967 - Lander
Ranger 6 - Jan 30, 1964 - Impact
Surveyor 6 - Nov 7, 1967 - Lander
Ranger 7 - Jul 28, 1964 - Impact
1968
1965
Surveyor 7 - Jan 7, 1968 - Lander
Ranger 8 - Feb 17, 1965 - Impact
Luna 14 - Apr 7, 1968 - Orbiter
Ranger 9 - Mar 21, 1965 - Impact
Zond 5 - Sep 15, 1968 - Return Probe
Luna 5 - May 9, 1965 - Impact 11
Zond 6 - Nov 10, 1968 - Return Probe
Explorer 49 (RAE-B) - Jun 10, 1973 Orbiter
Apollo 8 - Dec 21, 1968 - Crewed Orbiter
1974
1969
Luna 22 - Jun 2, 1974 - Orbiter
Apollo 10 - May 18, 1969 - Orbiter
Luna 23 - Oct 28, 1974 - Lander
Luna 15 - Jul 13, 1969 - Orbiter
1975
Apollo 11 - Jul 16, 1969 - Crewed Landing
1976
Zond 7 - Aug 7, 1969 - Return Probe
Luna 24 - Aug 14, 1976 - Sample Return
Apollo 12 - Nov 14, 1969 - Crewed Landing
1977 1978
1970
1979
Apollo 13 - Apr 11, 1970 - Crewed Landing (aborted)
1980 1981
Luna 16 - Sep 12, 1970 - Sample Return
1982
Zond 8 - Oct 20, 1970 - Return Probe
1983
Luna 17 - Nov 10, 1970 - Rover
1984
1971
1985
Apollo 14 - Jan 31, 1971 - Crewed Landing
1986 1987
Apollo 15 - Jul 26, 1971 - Crewed Landing
1988
Luna 18 - Sep 2, 1971 - Impact
1989
Luna 19 - Sep 28, 1971 - Orbiter
1990
1972
Hiten - Jan 24, 1990 - Flyby and Orbiter
Luna 20 - Feb 14, 1972 - Sample Return
1991
Apollo 16 - Apr 16, 1972 - Crewed Landing
1992
Apollo 17 - Dec 7, 1972 - Crewed Landing
1994
1993
Clementine - Jan 25, 1994 - Orbiter
1973
1995
Luna 21 - Jan 8, 1973 - Rover
1996 12
Orbiter
1997
2012
AsiaSat 3/HGS-1 - Dec 24, 1997 - Lunar Flyby
2013 1998
Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) - Mar, 2013 Lunar Orbiter
Lunar Prospector - Jan 7, 1998 - Orbiter 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 SMART 1 - Sep 27, 2003 - Lunar Orbiter 2004 2005 2006 2007 Kaguya (SELENE) - Sep 14, 2007 - Lunar Orbiter Chang'e 1 - Oct 24, 2007 - Lunar Orbiter 2008 Chandrayaan-1 - Oct 22, 2008 - Lunar Orbiter 2009 Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter - June 17, 2009 - Lunar Orbiter LCROSS - June 17, 2009 - Lunar Orbiter and Impactor 2010 Chang'e 2 - Oct 1, 2010 - Lunar Orbiter 2011 Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) - Sep 10, 2011 - Lunar 13