The Moon has fascinated humans for thousands of years. But still there is so much that you didn’t know about the Moon.
The Moon is mysterious to us. Its silence and stillness hides incredible facts that few people know about. Every craters and shadows tells the story of our solar system.
In this article, you’ll explore 15 fascinating facts about the Moon. You think you know the Moon, but these facts will surprise you.
15 Surprising Facts About the Moon
Scientists have studied the Moon for centuries. The Moon is the only natural satellite of our earth. It plays an important part in our planet’s history as well as the past. Every night it shines above us, but how well do we really know the Moon?
Here are 15 amazing facts about the Moon that will surprise you:
- Potential of Life
Scientists don’t find any living things on the Moon. But humans can live on the Moon as it supports life. The Moon has water ice found in a crater at the poles. The Moon can be home for humans in the future.
- Size and Distance
The Moon is smaller than the width of the Earth. The Moon has about 1080 miles (1740 km) radius.
The Moon is at about 238885 miles away from the earth. 30 Earths can be placed between the distance of the Moon and the Earth.
- Formation of the Moon
The scientist doesn’t know how the Moon was formed actually. According to popular giant impact theory, a large rock which is equal to the size of Mars collided with the earth. The debris collected together to form the Moon.
- Orbit & Rotation
The Moon completes one circle in about 27 days around the Earth. We can see only 60% of the Moon’s surface. The part of the Moon visible to us is called the near side.
- Structure of Moon
The Moon structure is made up of three layers such as core, mantle and crust.
The core is about 149 miles in radius and made up of iron.
The molten layer around the core is called mantle. Its composition contains minerals like olivine and pyroxene.
The crust is 25 miles thick near the hemisphere and 37 miles on the other side. The crust is composed of oxygen, silicon, magnesium, iron, calcium and aluminium. It also contains small amounts of titanium uranium, thorium, potassium and hydrogen.
- Surface
The Moon experiences a steady rain of asteroids, meteoroids and comets. These rains create many craters on the surface of the Moon.
The Moon surface is covered with charcoal gray, powdery dust and debris.
- Water on the Moon
The Chandarayaan-1 mission of India discovered hydroxyl molecules on the surface of the Moon in 2008. There is a higher concentration of ice water in the dark regions.
The scientist discovered that when micrometeoroids hit the surface of the Moon, most of the substances present in the craters vaporized. The shock waves from the reactions create water.
- Atmosphere
The thin atmosphere on the Moon is called the exosphere. The temperature varies drastically between day and night. The moon’s temperature is about 260 Fahrenheit during the sun and -280 Fahrenheit in the dark.
The atmosphere of the Moon does not have any mechanism like earth for protection against harmful rays of the sun.
- The Moon is Dark
We see a bright and complete Moon in the night sky during the full Moon phase. The people become captivated by the beauty of the Moon.
But do you know the Moon doesn’t have its own light. It reflects the sunlight which illuminates different portions of the Moon.
- The Moon Moving Away
The Moon is about 238,885 miles away from us. It is gradually moving away about an inch every year.
The Moon is moving away because the earth transfers its spinning energy to the Moon. Our Moon will be 100,000 miles away from us in 5 billion years.
- Astronauts Left Interesting Things on the Moon
The astronauts left American flags, golf balls, human wastes, human ashes and even cameras on the Moon.
- Magnetosphere
The Moon created magnetic fields for terrestrial planets in earlier ages. But now the Moon has a weak magnetic field which is many thousand times weaker than the magnetic field on the earth.
- Moon Phases
The Moon doesn’t appear the same for two nights in a row. The sunlight illuminates different portions of the Moon as it revolves around the earth. The illuminated portion becomes visible to us. So, it seems like the Moon is changing its shape.
- Cause Tides
The tides are caused by the pull of the Moon. This creates two bulges in the ocean. One bulge is positioned near the Moon while the other is away. There are low tides situated between these high bulges.
- Gravity
The gravity on the Moon is one-sixth of the gravity of the earth. You have seen the footage in which astronauts bounce on the surface of the Moon due to gravity.
Conclusion
The Moon has captured humans’ imagination. The story of Moon formation is tied to Earth’s history of formation.
The Moon is full of surprises other than its phases. Some facts about the Moon are so unusual that they sound unbelievable.