Lecture 26: The Moon

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the Moon as discussed in Lecture 26 of the ASTR 1210 course.

Lunar Libration

A phenomenon where the Moon appears to rock back and forth, allowing about 59% of its surface to be visible from Earth.

Tides

Gravitational effects caused by the differential pull of the Moon and the Sun on Earth’s oceans, leading to the bulging of oceans.

Spring Tides

Tides that occur when the Earth, Moon, and Sun are aligned, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides.

Neap Tides

Tides that occur when the Moon and Sun are at right angles relative to Earth, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides.

Impact Cratering

A process where craters are formed on a planetary surface due to impacts by asteroids or comets, most common in the early solar system.

Maria

Smooth, dark areas on the Moon formed by ancient volcanic activity, originally thought to be seas.

Highlands

Brighter, heavily cratered regions of the Moon that are older than the Maria and contain more rough terrain.

Rays

Splash patterns from materials ejected during a meteor impact, visible primarily under high illumination conditions.

Tidal Friction

The effect of the Moon's gravity slowing Earth's rotation and causing it to gradually move away from the Earth.

Apollo Missions

NASA missions that successfully landed humans on the Moon, notably Apollo 11, which was the first crewed mission to land on the Moon.

Lunar Exploration

The investigation and study of the Moon's surface and environment through various missions and technologies.

Eccentric Orbit

An orbit that is not circular, causing variations in the distance from the moon to the Earth, which influences its gravitational effects.