What the surface of the moon
is made out of
Fun Facts
Lunar History
The average distance from the
Moon to the Earth is 384403
kilometres (238857 miles).
The crust of the Moon is composed mostly of oxygen, silicon, magnesium, iron, calcium, and aluminum. There are also trace elements like titanium, uranium, thorium, potassium and hydrogen.
The mantle of the Moon is largely composed of the minerals olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene.
The lunar core is made of metallic iron, with small amounts of sulfur and nickel. Astronomers know that the core of the Moon is probably at least partly molten.
Survival Gear
needed on the trip
The impact theory states that the moon may have formed when, 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth collided with a very large object (the size of Mars or larger), ejecting raw materials that eventually became the Moon. Coaccretion theory holds that the Moon formed in Earth's orbit along with all the other planets in the
Food
Water
Oxygen
Space Suit
Travel to the Moon
Distance from Sun
238,900 miles
Key attractions
(volcanoes, craters, etc.)
The crater Tycho is probably the
most easily seen crater from Earth.
Copernius and Kepler
are also noticeable.
Surface temperature range
(day vs. night)
-153°C to 107°C
Gravity
The moon is 1/4 the size of Earth,
so the moon's gravity is much
less than the earth's gravity
83.3% (or 5/6)
Orbital period
27 days
How craters are made
Craters are caused by asteroids or comets,
and impact craters, are formed by
powerful volcanic explosions.
Rotational period
Main components
of the atmosphere
The rotation of the moon, or the time it takes to rotate on it's axis exactly once, is
27.322 days (rounded),
The moon does not have any
measurable atmosphere.
The difference between the
Highlands and Maria
The Maria are lower in altitude
than the Highlands
Contact information to book the trip.
Heaven Tankersley
htankersley@swceschool.org
References:
http://www.universetoday.com/20583/what-is-the-moon-made-of/
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/moon/moon_surface.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112188/moon_surface_features.htm
http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_gravity.phtml
http://www.universetoday.com/19623/temperature-of-the-moon/
http://lunar.ksc.nasa.gov/history/moonh.html
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/moon.html