Earth's Moon Lesson 2 Outline Quiz

Moon's Appearance

• The Moon appears to shine in the night sky because it reflects the Sun's light.
• The Moon does not produce its own light, it only reflects the Sun's light.

Formation of the Moon

• Scientists believe the Moon was formed about 4.5 billion years ago when a massive object collided with Earth.
• The debris from the collision merged to form the Moon.

Craters on the Moon

• Craters on the Moon's surface are caused by asteroid and comet impacts.
• The Moon's surface has been bombarded by asteroids and comets over billions of years, resulting in the formation of craters.

Lunar Cycle

• A lunar cycle is the period of time it takes the Moon to orbit Earth, which is approximately 29.5 days.
• During a lunar cycle, the Moon goes through eight distinct phases, which are determined by the amount of sunlight that reflects off its surface.

Phases of the Lunar Cycle

• During the full moon phase, the Moon's near side is completely lit by the Sun.
• During the new moon phase, the Moon's lit side is facing away from Earth, making it invisible from our planet.

Geological Process

• The geological process that led to the covering of many craters and features on the Moon's surface is volcanic activity.
• Volcanic eruptions on the Moon's surface filled in many of the craters and created the dark, lava-filled basins known as "seas."