Moon 101 | National Geographic

Summary

This video explores the moon, Earth's only natural satellite, which formed around 4.5 billion years ago from a collision between Earth and another planet. The moon has an iron-rich core, mantle, and crust, and though it was once geologically active, it is now covered in dust and craters. The largest crater, the South Pole-Aitken basin, spans a quarter of its surface. The moon's synchronized rotation with Earth means we always see the same side. Its eight lunar phases have shaped early calendars. In 1969, humans first landed on the moon during NASA's Apollo 11 mission, deepening our understanding of it.

Takeaways

• 🌕 Over 150 moons orbit the planets in our solar system, with one of those being Earth's Moon.
• 🪐 The Moon formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago after a collision between Earth and another early planet.
• 🌍 Debris from the collision began orbiting Earth, eventually accumulating into the Moon we know today.
• 🌑 The Moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system, with a diameter just under the width of China.
• 🪨 It has an iron-rich core, a mantle, and a crust made up of minerals containing magnesium, oxygen, and silicon.
• 🌋 The Moon was once geologically active and had a surface covered by an ocean of magma, but now it's mostly covered in dust and rocky debris.
• 🕳️ The Moon's surface is dotted with countless craters, formed by meteoroids, comets, and asteroids, with the largest being the South Pole-Aitken basin.
• 🌗 The Moon orbits Earth at an average distance of 30 Earths, always showing the same side due to its synchronized rotation and revolution.
• 🌓 Eight distinct lunar phases are observable from Earth, which have been studied for thousands of years and formed the basis for early calendars.
• 🚀 Human exploration of the Moon began with the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969, bringing us closer to understanding Earth's only natural satellite.

Q & A

How many moons orbit the solar system's planets?

Over 150 moons orbit the solar system's planets.

How was Earth's moon formed, according to one theory?

The moon was formed about 4.5 billion years ago when the Earth collided with another early planet, and debris from the collision accumulated to form the moon.

What is the size of the moon compared to Earth?

The moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system, with a diameter just under the width of China.

What are the main components of the moon's internal structure?

The moon has an iron-rich core, and its mantle and crust contain minerals made of magnesium, oxygen, and silicon.

What is the current state of the moon's surface?

The moon's surface is geologically inactive today and is covered in dust and rocky debris, though traces of water ice exist.

How are craters on the moon formed?

Craters on the moon are formed by meteoroids, comets, and asteroids crashing onto its surface.

What is the largest crater on the moon, and how big is it?

The largest crater on the moon is the South Pole-Aitken basin, which spans a quarter of the moon's surface and is nearly deep enough to fit Mount Everest inside.

How far is the moon from Earth, and how does it rotate?

The moon orbits Earth at an average distance of 30 Earths, and it rotates at the same rate it revolves, so the same side of the moon always faces Earth.

What are lunar phases, and why are they important?

Lunar phases are the eight distinct stages of the moon's illumination, and they have been observed for thousands of years, forming the basis for some of the earliest calendars.

When did humans first land on the moon, and what was the mission called?

Humans first landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, during the American spaceflight mission Apollo 11.