The Moon

Question 1

What is the diameter of the Moon?

Answer 1

About 2,200 miles (3,500 kilometers)

The diameter is the distance through the center of the Moon.

Question 2

What is the Moon primarily made of?

Answer 2

Rock

The composition of the Moon is mostly rocky material.

Question 3

What are the pits on the Moon’s surface called?

Answer 3

Craters

Craters are formed by meteorite impacts.

Question 4

How do craters form on the Moon?

Answer 4

When chunks of rock and metal called meteorites crash into the Moon

These impacts cover the surface with rocks and dust.

Question 5

What features does the Moon’s surface have besides craters?

Answer 5

Plains made of lava

These plains erupted from volcanoes billions of years ago.

Question 6

What is the average surface temperature of the Moon during the daytime?

Answer 6

About 225 ° F (107° C)

This temperature occurs when the Moon faces the Sun.

Question 7

What is the average surface temperature of the Moon at night?

Answer 7

About −243° F (−153 ° C)

The temperature drops significantly at night.

Question 8

What are the two types of movement the Moon has?

Answer 8

Orbit and spin

These movements are similar to those of planets.

Question 9

How long does it take the Moon to orbit around Earth?

Answer 9

About 27 days

This is the same duration as its rotation period.

Question 10

How long does it take for the Moon to complete one rotation?

Answer 10

About 27 days

The rotation period matches the orbital period.

Question 11

True or False: The same side of the Moon always faces Earth.

Answer 11

True

This phenomenon occurs due to synchronous rotation.

Question 12

What are the varying appearances of the Moon called?

Answer 12

Phases

Question 13

What does the Moon sometimes look like when viewed from Earth?

Answer 13

A full circle

Question 14

What can the Moon also appear as at other times?

Answer 14

A thin slice or completely dark

Question 15

Does the Moon’s shape actually change?

Answer 15

No, it just looks different from Earth

Question 16

What does the Moon reflect to create its phases?

Answer 16

Light from the Sun

Question 17

What causes different parts of the Moon to be visible from Earth?

Answer 17

The Moon orbits Earth and the Sun shines on different parts

Question 18

What does the terminator line represent?

Answer 18

The bright and dark side of the moon

Question 19

Why can’t we see a ‘new moon’?

Answer 19

Because the moon is in between the Earth and the sun, and the side facing the Earth isn’t illuminated

Question 20

What does the term waxing crescent mean?

Answer 20

The illuminated side of the moon is growing in size

Question 21

What phase do we see when the moon is at a 90-degree angle to the Earth and the Sun?

Answer 21

First quarter

Question 22

What does the term waxing gibbous mean?

Answer 22

The illuminated side is growing and looks swollen, larger than a crescent

Question 23

What is the position of the moon when it is fully illuminated?

Answer 23

The moon is opposite of the sun and fully illuminated on the bright or light side.

This phase is referred to as the full moon.

Question 24

What does waning gibbous indicate?

Answer 24

The sun is decreasing and the unilluminated part looks swollen and over half-way ‘gone’.

This phase occurs after a full moon.

Question 25

How many degrees does the moon orbit during its last quarter?

Answer 25

270 degrees. ## Footnote This phase is also known as the third quarter.

Question 26

What does waning crescent mean?

Answer 26

The unilluminated side is at a crescent shape, gradually decreasing until it's fully dark. ## Footnote This phase occurs before the new moon.

Question 27

How long does it take the moon to orbit the earth?

Answer 27

About 29.5 days. ## Footnote This duration is known as a lunar month.

Question 28

What occurs during a lunar eclipse?

Answer 28

The moon passes in the Earth's shadow ## Footnote This alignment of the moon and Earth's orbit blocks sunlight that reflects off the moon.

Question 29

What causes the moon to appear darker during a lunar eclipse?

Answer 29

Sunlight that reflects off the moon is blocked by the Earth's shadow ## Footnote This results in the moon appearing darker than usual.

Question 30

What is observed during a total lunar eclipse?

Answer 30

The moon looks red ## Footnote This red appearance is due to the scattering of blue light by the Earth's atmosphere, allowing longer wavelengths like red to bend and reach the moon.

Question 31

What effect does the Earth's atmosphere have on light during a total lunar eclipse?

Answer 31

It scatters blue light and allows red light to bend and reach the moon ## Footnote This scattering effect is why the moon appears red.

Question 32

Fill in the blank: A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon and the Earth's orbit align and the moon passes in the Earth's _______.

Answer 32

[shadow]

Question 33

What celestial body affects tidal waves on Earth?

Answer 33

The moon ## Footnote The moon's gravitational pull influences the movement of water, leading to tides.

Question 34

What causes high tide and low tide?

Answer 34

The gravitational pull from the moon on the waves ## Footnote The position of the moon relative to Earth determines the height of the tides.

Question 35

Why does the moon have the biggest influence on our tides?

Answer 35

Because it is closer than the gravitational pull of the sun ## Footnote The proximity of the moon allows its gravitational force to have a greater effect on tides compared to the sun.

Question 36

What are spring tides?

Answer 36

Tides that occur when the moon is in alignment with the sun ## Footnote Spring tides occur both when the moon is between the sun and Earth and when it is on the opposite side of the Earth.

Question 37

When do spring tides occur?

Answer 37

When the moon is in alignment with the sun ## Footnote This alignment happens during new moons and full moons.

Question 38

What happens during spring tides?

Answer 38

The moon and the sun exert equal gravitational pull ## Footnote This results in higher high tides and lower low tides.

Question 39

What was the primary competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War?

Answer 39

The competition was to see who had the best technology in space.

Question 40

What were two significant milestones in the Space Race?

Answer 40

* The first manned spacecraft into orbit * The first to walk on the Moon

Question 41

Why was the Space Race considered important?

Answer 41

It demonstrated which country had the best science, technology, and economic system.

Question 42

When did the Space Race officially begin?

Answer 42

The Space Race began in 1955.

Question 43

What prompted the United States and the Soviet Union to focus on rocket research after World War II?

Answer 43

Both countries realized the importance of rocket research to the military.

Question 44

What did both the United States and the Soviet Union do to advance their rocket technology?

Answer 44

They recruited top rocket scientists from Germany.

Question 45

What was the goal of the Soviet commission established after the US announced its satellite launch?

Answer 45

The goal was to beat the US in putting a satellite into space.

Question 46

What was the name of the first successful satellite launched by the Soviets?

Answer 46

Sputnik I

Question 47

On what date did the Soviets launch Sputnik I?

Answer 47

October 4, 1957

Question 48

What was the name of the first satellite launched by the Americans?

Answer 48

Explorer I

Question 49

How long after Sputnik I did the Americans launch Explorer I?

Answer 49

Four months later.