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The Moon

The Moon, Earth's only natural satellite, formed about 4.5 billion years ago and plays a crucial role in controlling tides and stabilizing Earth's climate. It has been the site of human exploration, notably through the Apollo missions, and continues to inspire modern missions aimed at deeper exploration. Culturally and scientifically significant, the Moon serves as a symbol of inspiration and preserves records of early solar system events.

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1 views2 pages

The Moon

The Moon, Earth's only natural satellite, formed about 4.5 billion years ago and plays a crucial role in controlling tides and stabilizing Earth's climate. It has been the site of human exploration, notably through the Apollo missions, and continues to inspire modern missions aimed at deeper exploration. Culturally and scientifically significant, the Moon serves as a symbol of inspiration and preserves records of early solar system events.

Uploaded by

NIRBHAY KUMAR
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Moon – Earth’s Natural Satellite

Introduction

The Moon, Earth’s only natural satellite, has always fascinated humanity. It controls tides,
influences ecosystems, guided ancient calendars, and has inspired myths, poetry, and
science. It is also the first and only extraterrestrial body humans have visited, making it
central to space exploration.

Origin and Structure

The Moon likely formed about 4.5 billion years ago through the Giant Impact Hypothesis
when a Mars-sized body (Theia) collided with Earth.

Its structure consists of:

 Core: Small, partly molten.

 Mantle: Made of silicate rocks, responsible for past volcanism.

 Crust: Outermost rocky surface with craters and plains.

The Moon’s surface is scarred by impacts, with lunar maria (dark plains) formed by
ancient volcanic eruptions.

Physical Features

 Diameter: 3,474 km (¼ Earth).

 Distance: 384,400 km from Earth.

 Gravity: 1/6th of Earth’s.

 Rotation: 27.3 days, tidally locked, showing the same face always.

Phases and Influence

The Moon goes through eight phases (New Moon → Full Moon → New Moon). Its
gravitational pull causes tides, which play a vital role in marine life. It also stabilizes Earth’s
axial tilt, keeping climates relatively steady.

Exploration

 Apollo Missions (1969–1972): The U.S. landed 12 astronauts, with Apollo 11


marking the first landing.

 Modern Missions: India’s Chandrayaan-3, China’s Chang’e missions, and NASA’s


Artemis program aim for deeper exploration and future human bases.

Cultural and Scientific Significance


The Moon has been worshiped as a deity, seen as a calendar keeper, and used as a symbol of
inspiration. Scientifically, it preserves records of early solar system events.

Fun Facts

 The Moon is drifting 3.8 cm away from Earth every year.

 The “dark side” myth: both sides receive sunlight, but only one faces Earth.

 Lunar dust is sharp and hazardous, clinging to astronaut suits.

Conclusion

The Moon is Earth’s loyal companion, stabilizing our world and inspiring exploration. It is
not just a celestial neighbor but also a stepping stone toward deeper space exploration.

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