Moon FACTS
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The Moon is a natural Satellite that revolves around the Earth
The Moon is made of rock
The Moon is 382,400 kilometers 250,000miles from Earth
The moon is about ¼ the size of Earth
The moon’s gravity is about 1/6th that of Earth.
The moon has craters, which are indents left by meteor
impact.
• The moon does not produce it’s own light; it reflects light
from the sun. The moon has frozen water
• The moon has a very very small atmosphere.
• The moon doesn’t shine on its own, it reflects sunlight
Motions of the moon
• The moon orbits the Earth
• The moon takes 28 days to revolve around the
Earth
• The moon takes 28 days to rotate once on its
axis
• The moon orbits at an angle compared to the
Earth’s orbit around the sun. (See image)
Sun Moon Earth connections
• Phases
• Eclipses
• Tides
PHASES OF THE MOON
What causes the phases of the moon?
The phases of the Moon depend on
its position in relation to the Sun
and Earth. As the Moon makes its
way around the Earth, we see the
bright parts of the Moon's surface
at different angles. These are called
"phases" of the Moon.
Half of the moon is always lit by the sun.
Only part of the lit half of the moon can be seen from Earth. We call
the lit part that we can see phases. Each phase has a different name.
-The cycle starts with the new moon and goes counter clockwise.
-The cycle lasts 28 days, which is the time it takes for the moon to orbit the
Earth one time.
Try to name the phases of the moon in
order starting with the New moon.
Eclipses
• The Sun and Moon occasionally line
up so that we have an eclipse.
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SOLAR ECLIPSE:
When the Moon’s shadow covers part of the Earth
• Three types: Annular, Partial, and Total
• Only happens at New Moon
Solar Eclipses
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Solar
Eclipse
This animation shows that the moon creates a small shadow which
Only allows certain areas of the earth to see a total solar eclipse.
Here is an animation showing a total solar eclipse
Remember that it is not safe to stare at a solar eclipse !!!
Partial Solar
Eclipse
Animation
View from Earth
Lunar Eclipse
That the moon is covered by the
Earth’s shadow
This Eclipse safe to look at.
2 Types of Lunar Eclipses:
Total Lunar Eclipse- when the moon passes through the Umbra of
Earth’s the shadow
Partial Lunar Eclipse: the moon passes through the Penmbra of
the Earth’s shadow
Total Lunar Eclipse Animation
Sometimes the moon
turns red when
totality occurs.
Three types of Lunar Eclipses
• Who on Earth will be able to see a lunar
eclipse?
Anyone who can see the Moon (anyone who is on the
nighttime side of the Earth during the eclipse)
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Which kind of eclipse is there
during a
• Full moon?
• New moon?
LUNAR ECLIPSE
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Tides
• What causes the tides?
• What is a spring tide?
• What is a neap tide?
What Are Tides?
• Tides are the daily rise and fall of Earth’s
waters on its coastlines.
• As the tide comes in, the level of water on the
beach rises, and as the tide goes out, the level
of water on the beach goes down.
• Tides occur in all bodies
of water, but they are most
noticeable in the ocean and
large lakes.
High Tides
• High tides are when the water reaches its
highest point.
Low Tides
• Low tides are when the water reaches its
lowest point.
What Causes Tides?
• Tides are caused by the interaction of Earth,
the Moon, and the Sun.
• Gravity is the reason for tides.
• Gravity is the force
exerted by an object
that pulls other objects
toward it.
Moon’s Gravity and Tides
• The Moon’s gravity affects the water on
Earth’s surface.
• Since the Moon is close to the Earth, it has a
strong gravitational pull on it (closer
objects have stronger gravitational pull).
Moon’s Gravity – Tidal Bulges
• The Moon pulls on the water on the side
nearest to it more strongly than it pulls on
the center of the Earth.
• This pull creates a bulge of water, called a
tide bulge,
on the side of
Earth facing
the
the Moon.
Moon’s Gravity – Tidal Bulges
• The water on the side of Earth facing away from
the Moon has a less strong pull.
• This water is “left behind” and forms a second
bulge.
• As Earth rotates,
different places on the
planet’s surface pass
through the areas of the
tidal bulges and have
the change in water levels.
Tidal Bulges – High Tide
• In places where there are tidal bulges, high
tide is occurring along the coastlines.
High
Tide
High
Tide
Tidal Bulges – Low Tide
• In places between the bulges, low tide is
occurring.
LOW TIDE
LOW TIDE
Sun’s Gravity and Tides
• The Sun is so large that
its gravity also affects
tides.
• At times, the Sun and
Moon pull together on
Earth’s waters in the
same direction.
(SPRING TIDES)
• At other times they pull
in different directions.
(NEAP TIDES)
Daily Tide Cycle
• Most seashores have four tides every day –
two high tides and two low tides.
Monthly Tide Cycle
• Changes in the positions of Earth, the Moon, and
Sun affect the height of tides during a month.
Spring Tides
• Spring tides occur 2 times a month, during a
full and new moon when the Earth, Sun, and
Moon are lined up.
• Spring tides are higher and lower than normal
tides.
• “strong tides”
Neap Tides
• Neap tides occur in between spring tides, at
the first and third quarters of the Moon
when the Sun and Moon pull at right angles
to each other.
• Neap tides are not
as high or low as
normal tides.
• “weak tides”