Some of your oftentimes asked Moon questions, answered.
Moon in Motion: Phases, Patterns, and More
Does the Moon rotate? Does the Moon spin on its axis?
Aye! The time it takes for the Moon torotate once on its axis is equal to the fourth dimension information technology takes for the Moon toorbit once effectually Globe. This keeps the same side of the Moon facing towards World throughout the month.
If the Moon did not rotate on its centrality at all, or if information technology rotated at whatsoever other charge per unit, then nosotros would see different parts of the Moon throughout the month.
Does the Moon orbit Earth?
Yes. The Moon takes nearly i calendar month to orbit Earth (27.iii days to complete a revolution, but 29.5 days to change from New Moon to New Moon).
As the Moon completes each 27.3-twenty-four hours orbit around World, both World and the Moon are moving effectually the Sun. Because of this alter in position, sunlight appears to hit the Moon at a slightly different bending on mean solar day 27 than information technology does on day zero ― even though the Moon itself has already traveled all the way effectually Globe. It takes a little more than two additional days for sunlight to hit the Moon in the aforementioned way information technology did on day zero. This is why information technology takes 29.5 days to get from new moon to new moon, even though information technology doesn't take quite that long for the Moon itself to travel once around Earth.
Are Moon phases the same everywhere on Globe?
Yes, anybody sees the same phases of the Moon. People n and south of the equator practice see the Moon'south current phase from different angles, though. If yous traveled to the other hemisphere, the Moon would be in the same phase equally it is at home, but information technology would announced upside down compared to what you're used to!
For example, on March 8, 2021, the Moon was in a waning crescent stage. Seen from the Northern Hemisphere, the waning crescent appeared on the left side of the Moon. Seen from the Southern Hemisphere, the crescent appeared on the right.
Data visualizations of the waning crescent moon as seen from the Northern Hemisphere (left) and the Southern Hemisphere (right) on March 8, 2021. Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
Are Moon phases acquired past shadows from Earth?
No. The only time World'south shadow affects our view of the Moon is during a lunar eclipse. Generally, 1 one-half of the Moon ― the side facing the Sun ― is brightly illuminated, and one is in shadow. We use moon phases to describe the way our perspective on the half-lit Moon changes equally Globe and Moon move through space over the course of a month.
During a crescent moon, for example, the part of the Moon that faces World is by and large in shadow, and the far side of the Moon is more often than not sunlit. The visible crescent is the only part of the lunar nearside that is experiencing daytime.
Data visualization of a waning crescent moon as seen from the northern hemisphere. During this phase, it is night on nearly of the near side of the Moon, and solar day on near of the far side of the Moon. Credit: NASA'southward Science Visualization Studio
Why do we see Moon phases?
The Moon is always one-half-lit by the sun (except during a lunar eclipse). The side of the Moon facing the Sun appears brilliant because of reflected sunlight, and the side of the Moon facing away from the Sun is dark. Our perspective on the one-half-lit Moon changes equally the Moon orbits Earth. When the side nearest to us is fully lit, nosotros call this a total Moon. When the far side is fully lit and the virtually side is nighttime, we phone call this a new Moon. When we come across other phases, we are looking at the division betwixt lunar night (the dark part) and mean solar day (the bright part).
What is the Moon really shaped similar?
The Moon is shaped like an imperfect sphere. From a distance, it looks nearly round. Seen upwards close, the Moon'due south surface is a three-dimensional landscape of mountains, valleys, and craters. Explore the Moon's surface from wherever you are in this 3D map congenital from data captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
Can I come across the Moon during the twenty-four hours?
Aye! The Moon is up just equally much during the 24-hour interval equally information technology is at night, merely y'all might not detect it as hands. Because the Sunday is too up, and considering the Moon phases that are most often visible in daylight show u.s. only a little scrap of the Moon'south vivid side (similar the crescent Moon phases), the Moon is harder to see during the day.
Why does the Moon rising and set? Can people in dissimilar countries see the Moon on the aforementioned solar day?
Moonrises and moonsets occur for the same reason as sunrises and sunsets. Earth rotates every day! This means that observers in many different parts of the world take their turn looking at the Moon throughout the day, just like nosotros all run into the aforementioned Sun over the grade of 24 hours.
Why does the Moon look largest shut to the horizon?
This is an optical illusion. Testify it for yourself here!
Origin and Nature of the Moon
Does the Moon make its ain light (like the Lord's day does)?
The Moon does not make its own light. "Moonlight" is really sunlight that has reflected off of the Moon's surface.
What is moonlight? How is the Moon lit?
The Moon does not make its own low-cal. All moonlight is reflected sunlight. The bright part of the Moon is experiencing daytime.
What is the Moon? Is it a planet?
The Moon is a natural satellite, or a space object that orbits around something else. Our Moon is World's natural satellite.
In general, a moon is a natural satellite of a planet, and a planet is a special kind of natural satellite that orbits a star and likewise meets other weather.
Learn more: What makes a planet a planet?
How did the Moon form?
The leading theory is that a Mars-sized object collided with Earth billions of years agone, and droppings from this standoff eventually formed the Moon. Here is an animation that shows what this might take looked like:
Animation showing the Moon'due south early history. Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
For more information, visit The Moon In Depth spider web folio.
Does the Moon take gravity? Do things float "upwards" when dropped on the Moon?
The Moon does accept gravity. Because the Moon has less mass than Earth, its gravitational pull is weaker (about one-sixth of Earth'due south). On the Moon, you lot'd exist able to jump about six times equally high as you tin can on Earth ― but you would notwithstanding come up back down!
What would happen if there was no Moon? How does the Moon touch on Earth?
Globe would be a very different world if it had no Moon. The Moon's gravity keeps our planet from wobbling on its centrality too much, which helps to stabilize our climate. The Moon as well plays an important role in creating tides in Earth's oceans.
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