Moon and Earth

Make a Comparison Chart

Moon Both Earth

The Moon

• The moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite.

The Moon

• The same side of the

moon always faces the

Earth because it

rotates in the same

amount of time that it

revolves.

Rotation

• Rotation is the spinning of a planet or moon on

its axis.

Revolution

• Revolution is one complete trip of a planet around

the sun or the moon around Earth.

Moon Phases

• The moon looks different at different times of the month.

• The moon does not change it’s shape, what changes is the part f the moon that reflects light from the sun to Earth.

Moon Phases

• The moon orbits (revolves) Earth about once every 28 days (about once a month).

• This is called a lunar cycle.

• The moon revolving around Earth causes moon phases.

Moon Phases

Earth’s Season’s

• The Earth is tilted on it’s axis 23 ½ degrees. Because of this tilt Earth has different seasons.

The Moon

• The moon is about ¼ the size of Earth.

The Moon

• The Earth’s tides are

caused by the moon’s

gravitational pull.

The Moon

• The moon has no light of it’s own. It reflects light

from the sun.

The Moon

• The moon has no atmosphere, no air, no water, and no life.

• The moon’s surface is rocky with many craters and mountains.

Moon vs. Earth

• The moon’s surface

has no water.

• Its surface consists of

craters, rocks, and

dust.

• The moon has no

atmosphere.

• It also has more

craters because there

is no weathering and

erosion.

• The Earth’s surface is

72% water.

• Its surface consists of

water, soil, and rocks.

• The Earth’s

atmosphere is made

up of hydrogen and

methane gases.

• The Earth’s

atmosphere protects

it from the extreme

heat and cold.

Moon vs. Earth

• The moon revolves around the Earth in about 28 days.

• The moon rotates on its own axis in the same amount of time.

• Therefore, the same side of the moon always faces the Earth.

• The Earth revolves around the Sun in 365 ¼ days.

• The Earth rotates on its own axis in 24 hours.

Eclipses

• An eclipse happens when one object in space casts a shadow on another object in space.

Lunar Exploration

• Apollo 11 landed on the

moon July 20, 1969 with

Neil Armstrong, Edwin

“Buzz” Aldrin, and

Michael Collins.

• Neil Armstrong was the

first person to set foot on

the moon.

• His famous statement

made as stepping onto

the lunar surface was,

“That’s one small step for

man, one giant leap for

mankind.”

Check Comparison Chart

Moon

•No Water

•No Atmosphere

•Silent

•No weathering

or erosion

•¼ size of Earth

Both

•Have rocks,

craters, and

valleys

•Iron core

•Both have/had

volcanic activity

•Revolve and

rotate

Earth

•Tides are caused

by the moon’s

gravitational pull

•Surface is 72%

covered by water

•Atmosphere is

hydrogen and

methane gases

•Weathering and

erosion are caused

by wind, rain, and

ice

Questions

How can you compare the size

of the Earth and the Moon?

The moon is ¼ the size of Earth

How do the atmospheres

compare?

Earth has an atmosphere and

the moon does not. There is

air, water, and life on Earth and

not on the moon. There is no

weathering and erosion on the

moon.

How can you describe the

surface of the moon and how it

relates to the Earth?

The surface of the moon is

rocky with many craters. The

Earth is also rocky but with

fewer craters due to weathering

and erosion and is mostly water.

What is the difference between

phases and seasons?

Phases are caused by the moon

revolving around Earth and

occur every 28 days.

Seasons are caused by the tilt

of Earth on it’s axis and occur

every 365 days.

What causes an eclipse?

An object in space casting a

shadow on another object.

Why do we always see the

same side of the moon?

The moon rotates and revolves

in the same amount of time

What causes tides?

The moon’s gravitational pull