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Friday October 1, 2010. (Earth’s Moon and Lunar History). The Launch Pad Friday, 10/1/10. Name and describe the two major influences of our Sun. The gravitational influence is the hold the Sun has on material objects and is what determines the extent of our solar system. . - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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FridayOctober 1, 2010(Earth’s Moon and
Lunar History)
The Launch PadFriday, 10/1/10
Name and describe the two major influences of our Sun.The gravitational influence is the hold the Sun has on material objects and is what
determines the extent of our solar system. The radiational influence of the Sun is
known as the heliosphere, which is a bubble in space produced by the solar wind.
Announcements Today is the last
opportunity to do anything about your grade for this six-weeks.
I will be leaving promptly at 5:00 PM this afternoon.
Assignment Currently Open Pages Date of Notes
on Website Date Issued Date Due
Earth’s Moon Lunar History
The current hypothesis suggests that a giant asteroid collided with the Earth
to produce the Moon. The older areas have a higher density.
The younger areas are still smooth.
The Formation of the MoonThe current preferred hypothesis regarding the
Moon’s formation is the ‘collision’ theory. It is, so far, the best at explaining how compositions of rock from the Earth and rock from the Moon differ.According to the collision theory, at the dawn of the Solar System a heavenly body the size of Mars hit
the young Earth.As a result, material from the rocky mantle of the heavenly body and of the Earth was hurled into
space.This collected in the shape of a ring on a path closely orbiting the Earth where it then gradually ‘clumped
together’ to form the Moon.
The Formation of the Moon
Earth’s Moon Lunar History
The Moon evolved in three phases:1. original crust (highlands)
As the Moon formed, its outer shell melted, cooled, solidified, and became the highlands - about 4.5 billion years ago.
2. formation of maria basins Maria basins are younger than the highlands – they formed between 3.2 and
3.8 billion years ago.3. formation of rayed craters
The material ejected from craters is still visible as rays - e.g., Copernicus and Tycho (rayed craters).
Earth’s Moon Our Moon’s General Characteristics: • The Moon has a diameter of 3,475 km (2,160 miles) - unusually large compared to its parent planet, the Earth.
• Density of the Moon ▪ 3.3 times that of water▪ comparable to Earth’s crustal rocks▪ perhaps the Moon has a small iron core
Earth’s Moon Our Moon’s General Characteristics: • The Moon’s gravitational attraction is one-sixth of Earth’s.
• The Moon has no atmosphere.• Tectonics are no longer active.• Our Moon’s surface is bombarded by micrometeorites from space, which gradually makes the landscape smooth.
Earth’s Moon The Lunar Surface – Two Types of Terrain
▪ Maria (singular, mare), Latin for “sea”• dark regions• fairly smooth lowlands• Originated from asteroid impacts and lava flooding the surface .
▪ Highlands • Bright, densely cratered regions• Make up most of the Moon• Make up all of the far side of the Moon• Older than maria
Earth’s MoonMare
Highlands
Major Topographic Features on the Lunar Surface
Figure 22.6
Assignment
Download a picture of the
Moon and label the
areas indicated in
this example.
Use Open Office
Impress.
A
B
C
DF
G
H
IJ
K
L
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