Moon Phases and Eclipses PDF

THE MOON PHASES AND ECLIPSE Learning Objective Describe the moon as the Earth’s natural satellite  ACTIVITY STORY TELLING TERRA | ASTRA | LUMIN The Birth of the Moon In the vastness of the cosmos, there existed a lonely planet called Terra. It was a beautiful world, covered with oce...

THE MOON PHASES AND ECLIPSE Learning Objective Describe the moon as the Earth’s natural satellite  ACTIVITY STORY TELLING TERRA | ASTRA | LUMIN The Birth of the Moon In the vastness of the cosmos, there existed a lonely planet called Terra. It was a beautiful world, covered with oceans and forests, but it lacked something—a companion to share its endless nights.  One day, Terra was visited by two celestial siblings, Astra and Lumin. Astra was a star-being, radiant and full of energy, while Lumin was a spirit of light, gentle and calm. They had wandered the universe for eons, seeking a place to bring their magic to life.  When they reached Terra, they saw the planet's yearning for a companion. Moved by its loneliness, they decided to help. But creating something as grand as a moon required a special bond—a union of their powers with Terra's spirit.  Astra descended first, landing in Terra’s vast oceans. The waters bubbled and churned as Astra’s fiery essence mingled with the planet’s core. The land trembled, and from the depths of the ocean, a massive orb of molten rock rose into the sky. This was the beginning of the moon’s body, but it was still lifeless, dark, and rough.  Then, Lumin approached. She whispered to the newborn moon, wrapping it in her soft light. As her glow touched its surface, the jagged rocks smoothed into plains and craters, and the moon began to shine faintly, reflecting the light back to Terra. But something was still missing. As the moon settled into its new place, it felt a sense of purpose. No longer just a lifeless rock, it became Terra’s companion, guiding the tides and lighting up the dark nights. Astra and Lumin watched with satisfaction as the two celestial bodies danced together, their energies perfectly balanced.  The moon, now fully formed, thanked Astra and Lumin for their gift. Terra, no longer lonely, sent waves of gratitude across the universe. And so, in the quiet of the cosmos, a new friendship was born—one that would last for eons, as Terra and its moon kept each other company in the endless night. RE-YAL OR FA-KE!  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! The planet Terra was already accompanied by several moons before Astra and Lumin arrived.  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! The planet Terra was already accompanied by several moons before Astra and Lumin arrived.  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! Astra was a star-being full of radiant energy.  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! Astra was a star-being full of radiant energy.  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! Lumin descended into Terra's oceans to create the moon's body.  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! Lumin descended into Terra's oceans to create the moon's body.  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! Lumin wrapped the newborn moon in a soft light that smoothed its surface.  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! Lumin wrapped the newborn moon in a soft light that smoothed its surface.  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! The moon was lifeless and dark even after Astra and Lumin’s involvement.  RE-YAL OR FA-KE! The moon was lifeless and dark even after Astra and Lumin’s involvement. The Moon Earth’s Moon is a natural satellite that significantly influences the earth by creating tides and stabilizing Earth’s axial tilt. The moon orbits Earth completing an orbit every 27.3 days. The surface of the Moon is a fascinating and diverse landscape characterized by several distinct features formed over billions of years. The Moon’s surface features dark basaltic plains, cratered highlands, and numerous impact craters. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Size and Distance: The Moon is about 3,474 kilometers or 2,159 miles in diameter, roughly one-quarter the size of Earth. It orbits Earth at an average distance of 384,400 kilometers or 238,855 miles. Composition: The Moon is composed primarily of rock and metal, with a crust, mantle, and a small core. Its surface is covered with regolith, a layer of loose, fragmented material. ORBITAL PATH Shape: The Moon follows an elliptical orbit around Earth, meaning it is not a perfect circle but rather slightly elongated. Eccentricity: The orbit's eccentricity is about 0.0549, indicating a modest deviation from a perfect circle. ORBITAL PERIOD Sidereal Month: The Moon takes approximately 27.3 days to complete one orbit around Earth relative to the stars. This period is known as a sidereal month. Synodic Month: The time it takes for the Moon to complete one cycle of phases, from new moon to new moon, is about 29.5 days. This period is known as a synodic month.  MOONS SURFACE The Moon's surface is covered with craters, mountains, and plains known as maria, formed by ancient volcanic activity. The most famous craters include Tycho, Copernicus, and Aristarchus. Craters Craters form from meteoroid, asteroid, or comet impacts, varying in size. Notable craters include Tycho, Copernicus, and Clavius. Many craters have central peaks from surface rebound post-impact. Maria The maria on the Moon are vast, dark plains formed by volcanic eruptions, less cratered than highlands, covering 17% of the Moon's surface. They consist mainly of basalt and include notable examples like Mare Imbrium, Mare Serenitatis, and Mare Tranquillitatis. Lunar Highlands The lunar highlands cover 83% of the moon's surface, characterized by rugged, mountainous terrain and composed mainly of anorthosite, an igneous rock abundant in plagioclase feldspar. How do humans learn about the Moon? The discovery of the Moon as Earth's natural satellite is an ancient and fundamental aspect of human knowledge. In this presentation, you’ll see an overview of how humans discovered and understood the Moon.  I. Ancient Observations Early humans would have noticed the Moon in the night sky due to its brightness and changing position relative to the stars. The Moon's phases, which occur in a regular cycle, were among the first celestial phenomena to be systematically recorded.  II. Geocentric Model In this model, Earth is considered the center of the universe, with all celestial bodies, including the Sun, Moon, and planets, thought to revolve around it.  III. Renaissance Era The invention and development of the telescope had a profound impact on our understanding of the universe, enabling astronomers to observe celestial objects in greater detail.  IV. Scientific Revolution The scientific revolution in understanding the Moon has been a cumulative process, involving advances in observational technology, theoretical physics, space exploration, and ongoing scientific research.  V. Space Age Exploration Space Age Exploration has transformed our understanding of the cosmos and continues to inspire future generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers to push the boundaries of what is possible in outer space.  Future of Moon Exploration The discovery and understanding of the Moon represent a gradual accumulation of knowledge over millennia, influenced by various cultures, observations, and scientific advancements. Today, the Moon continues to be a subject of scientific study, cultural significance, and potential future exploration. PHASES OF THE MOON  As the Moon orbits around the Earth, the half of the Moon that faces the Sun will be lit up. The different shapes of the lit portion of the Moon that can be seen from Earth are known as phases of the Moon. Each phase repeats itself every 29.5 days. A phase is an angle of the moon to the earth so it appears differently every month. The moon itself does not produce light; the light you see on the moon is actually the reflection of the sun. The moon rotates on its own axis as does the Earth. Earth also orbits around the sun. As a result, you will see many different moon phases depending on where the sun, Earth and moon are positioned. NEW MOON The new moon is barely visible and occurs when the Earth and moon are aligned and the sun and earth are on opposite sides of the moon. WAXING CRESCENT A waxing crescent moon occurs when the moon begins to become visible again after a New Moon. FIRST QUARTER The first quarter moon occurs when the moon reaches the first quarter of its orbit around the earth. It looks like a half-moon but remember the moon is a 3D shape. WAXING GIBBOUS A waxing gibbous moon means the visibility of the moon is getting bigger. It is bigger than a semicircle but smaller than a full moon. FULL MOON The full moon is visible when the moon is on the opposite side of Earth than the sun. WANING GIBBOUS A waning gibbous moon comes after the Full Moon. The amount of moon visible begins to decrease. More than half of the moon is still visible. THIRD QUARTER The third quarter moon is the opposite view of the First Quarter moon. It looks like half of a moon but remember the moon is a sphere. WANING CRESCENT A waning crescent moon has less than half of the moon still visible. THANK YOU SO MU-  REFERENCES: NASA. (n.d.). Moon: Facts & information. NASA Solar System Exploration. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/earths-moon/overview/ European Space Agency. (n.d.). The Moon: Our natural satellite. ESA Science & Technology. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://sci.esa.int/web/moon National Geographic. (n.d.). The Moon: Earth's satellite. National Geographic Resource Library. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/earths-moon/ Royal Astronomical Society. (n.d.). Exploring the Moon. Royal Astronomical Society. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://ras.ac.uk/moon