The Solar System Part 2 Flashcards
Lecture 5 - 7 (62 cards)
What does the moon preserve an early record of? (3 factors)
- Geological evolution of a terrestrial planet
- Inner Solar System Bombardment
- Solar and Galactic environment throughout the last 4.5 billion years
What is the moon’s diameter?
3500km
What is the mass of the moon in comparison to the Earth?
0.01 times mass of the Earth
What is the surface gravity of the Moon?
0.167 Earth gravity
What is the surface temperature of the Moon?
- 170 degrees to +130 degrees
What is the Albedo of the moon? (the light reflected in number form)
0.07
List the 4 Moon phases in order
New Moon, Waxing Crescent, Full Moon, Waning Crescent
How many days is the period of the Moon?
29.5 days
How many days is the orbit of the Moon?
27.3 days
(Perigee and Apogee) What apparent change takes place to the Moon when it is nearest and furthest away from the Earth?
It changes size
Why is the Moon locked to it’s orbit? (I.e. Why does the same side always face the Earth?)
Gravitional tidal resonance
How many rotations of axis does the Moon undergo per orbit around the Earth?
1
Why is it possible to see more than half of the Moon from Earth? What is this known as?
- Because the Moon’s orbit is elliptical
- Known as Libration
What are Dark Plains of the Moon otherwise known as?
Maria
Name two types of impact craters that demonstrate the typical features of an impact crater
Copernicus and Tycho
Name three typical features of/and around a crater on the Moon
- Central peak where the rock has rebounded
- Material thrown out of crater is called ejecta
- Rays of light coloured material which was part of the ejecta which has been thrown several kms away
Typically, what are the four stages of the formation of a crater?
- A body strikes the surface of the moon
- It buries itself below the surface
- It then explodes and the crater is formed
- The rocks in the centre rebound.
What do large impact from craters cause?
Fissures in the crust that allow lava to flow towards the surface
What does the far side of the Moon have more of than the near side? (2 factors)
- More mountains
- Much more heavily cratered
Why is the far side of the moon more cratered?
It does not have the Earth in the way to block comets
In the interior of the Moon, what does the low density of the Moon rule out?
Iron core more than a few hundred km in diameter
How deep is the Moon’s crust on the side facing Earth?
60-100km deep
As the Moon cooled rapidly and is so small, what does this tell about the core? (Two factors)
- That there is no liquid core
- It has no large-scale magnetic field
What factor could be considered as a reason for the Moon having no atmosphere?
The gravitional field is too weak to retain gas molecules
