Coronado Varsity Astronomy: The Moon and Its Phases

The statement "Earth's gravity pulled the Moon in when it passed close enough to Earth" aligns with the "Capture Theory." This theory suggests that the Moon was initially an independent celestial body that got caught in Earth's gravitational pull when it came near enough. Therefore, the answer is true.

Moonquakes are seismic activities on the Moon that are similar to earthquakes on Earth. These quakes can occur due to various factors such as the gravitational pull of the Earth, tidal forces, or meteorite impacts. Unlike earthquakes on Earth that typically last for a few seconds to a couple of minutes, some Moonquakes have been observed to last over ten minutes. This prolonged duration is attributed to the Moon's structure, which lacks a liquid outer core, causing it to vibrate and resonate like a bell. Therefore, the statement that some Moonquakes can last over ten minutes and cause the Moon to ring like a bell is true.

The Moon is not a perfect sphere due to its rotation causing it to slightly bulge at the equator. This shape is often described as an oblate spheroid, similar to an egg or a lemon. Therefore, the statement that the Moon is not round is true.

The Moon's gravitational pull on Earth creates a torque that helps stabilize the planet's rotation. Without the Moon, Earth's rotation would be less stable and could vary significantly over time. The Moon's presence helps maintain the Earth's rotation period of approximately 24 hours, making the statement true.

During the new moon phase, the Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, with the side facing Earth in darkness. As the Moon progresses towards the full moon phase, the illuminated portion visible from Earth gradually increases. This occurs because the Sun's light is reflecting off the Moon's surface, causing it to appear brighter and larger each night. Therefore, it is true that from new moon to full moon phase, you see an increasing amount of the lighted side of the Moon from the right.

The statement is true because the Moon is tidally locked with the Earth, meaning that it takes the same amount of time for the Moon to complete one rotation on its axis as it does to orbit around the Earth. This synchronous rotation causes the same side of the Moon to always face the Earth, while the far side remains hidden from our view. Therefore, we never see the far side of the Moon from Earth.

When the Moon is halfway through its cycle, it means that it is at the point of its orbit where it is directly opposite the Sun from the perspective of Earth. This is known as the full moon phase. During this phase, the entire face of the Moon that is visible from Earth is illuminated by sunlight, making it appear as a full moon. Therefore, the statement that when the Moon is halfway through its cycle it will appear as a full moon is true.

Lunar eclipses last longer than solar eclipses because the Earth's shadow is much larger than the Moon. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon. The Earth's shadow is larger than the Moon, which means that the Moon takes longer to pass through it. In contrast, during a solar eclipse, the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth, but the Moon's shadow is much smaller than the Earth. Therefore, the duration of a lunar eclipse is longer than that of a solar eclipse.

During a lunar eclipse, the Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon, causing the Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon. This occurs when the Moon is in the full moon phase. The alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon is necessary for a lunar eclipse to take place, making the statement "A lunar eclipse is most likely to occur when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon" true.

The statement that the Moon is older than the Earth is false. According to scientific theories, the Earth formed around 4.54 billion years ago, while the Moon is believed to have formed shortly after, around 4.5 billion years ago. This makes the Earth slightly older than the Moon.

The statement is false because the Moon is actually moving away from Earth, not getting closer. The Moon's orbit is slowly expanding, causing it to move approximately 1.5 inches farther away from Earth each year. This phenomenon is known as lunar recession and is caused by tidal forces between the Earth and the Moon.

The statement is true because Earth has a much larger mass compared to the Moon. The Earth has approximately 81 times more mass than the Moon. This is due to the Earth's larger size and gravitational pull, which allows it to hold onto more mass.

The statement is true because lunar highlands are indeed lighter in color and higher in elevation compared to the maria. The highlands are made up of older, heavily cratered rocks that reflect more sunlight, giving them a lighter appearance. They are also located in higher areas of the Moon's surface, while the maria are lower, flatter regions that contain darker, smoother basaltic lava flows.

In 50 billion years, the Earth and Moon will be in a state of tidal lock, where their rotation periods will be equal. This means that the same side of the Moon will always face the Earth, and the Earth will always see the same side of the Moon. Tidal locking occurs due to the gravitational interaction between the two bodies, causing the Moon's rotation to gradually slow down over time. Therefore, it is true that in 50 billion years, the Earth and Moon will rotate at the same speed in tidal lock.

Large moonquakes on the Moon's surface are believed to be caused by the tidal forces of the Earth and Sun as well as thermal changes within the crust. Tidal forces occur due to the gravitational pull of the Earth and Sun, causing the Moon's crust to deform and generate seismic activity. Additionally, thermal changes within the crust can cause expansion and contraction, leading to moonquakes. Therefore, it is true that these factors contribute to the occurrence of large moonquakes on the Moon's surface.

The full Moon in September is called a harvest Moon because it is the closest full Moon to the autumnal equinox. During this time, the Moon rises shortly after sunset, providing extra light in the evenings, which was traditionally beneficial for farmers to extend their working hours and harvest crops. This phenomenon is specific to the September full Moon and gives it the name "harvest Moon."

A solar eclipse is most likely to occur when the Moon is located between the Earth and Sun. This is because during a solar eclipse, the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on the Earth's surface and blocking the Sun's light. Therefore, the statement that the Sun is located between the Earth and Moon is incorrect.

Large Moonquakes are caused by thermal changes on the Moon's surface. Thermal changes occur due to the expansion and contraction of the Moon's surface as it heats up and cools down. These changes in temperature cause the rocks and materials on the Moon's surface to expand and contract, leading to seismic activity. This is similar to how earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates on Earth. Therefore, it is true that large Moonquakes are caused by thermal changes on the Moon's surface.

When the Moon is at a quarter of its orbit around the Earth, it is positioned in such a way that only half of its surface is illuminated by the Sun, creating what is commonly known as a half Moon. Therefore, the statement "When the Moon is ¼ of its orbit around the Earth it is a half Moon" is true.

The statement is false because when the visible portion of the Moon is increasing, it is actually waxing, not waning. Waning refers to the decreasing visible portion of the Moon, while waxing refers to the increasing visible portion.

When the Moon is 3/4 of its orbit around the Earth, it means that it has completed 3/4th of its journey around the Earth. Since a full orbit takes about 29.5 days, 3/4th of this time would be approximately 22 days. During this time, the Moon goes through various phases, including the half Moon phase. Therefore, it is true that when the Moon is 3/4 of its orbit around the Earth, it is a half Moon.

This statement is true because of a phenomenon called "libration." Due to the Moon's elliptical orbit and its axial tilt, we are able to see slightly more than 50% of its surface over time. This means that different portions of the Moon's surface become visible from Earth at different times, allowing us to see more than half of it.

The statement says that about 90 moons could fit inside the Earth, but this is not true. The Earth is much larger than the moon, so it would take many more moons to fill up the Earth. Therefore, the correct answer is false.

A supermoon is a phenomenon where the moon appears larger and brighter than usual in the night sky. It occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, known as perigee. During this time, the moon's gravitational pull is stronger, causing higher tides. Therefore, it is most likely for a supermoon to occur during the perigee of the lunar cycle.

When the lighted portion of the Moon appears to get smaller, it is actually waning, not waxing. Waxing refers to the Moon's illuminated portion increasing in size, while waning refers to the illuminated portion decreasing in size. Therefore, the statement "When the lighted portion of the Moon appears to get smaller it is waxing" is incorrect.

The statement is false. The second full Moon of a month is not called a Harvest Moon. A Harvest Moon is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox, usually in September. It is named so because it provides extra light in the evenings, which traditionally helped farmers with their harvest.

Tidal braking refers to the process by which the gravitational forces exerted by celestial bodies, such as the Moon and the Sun, cause a deceleration in the rotation of the Earth. This is due to the tidal forces generated by these bodies, which create a bulge on the Earth's surface that lags behind the direction of the gravitational pull. As a result, the Earth's rotation gradually slows down over time. Therefore, the statement that tidal braking slows down the rotation of the Earth as well as tidal forces from the Sun and the Moon is true.

The statement is true because the Moon takes approximately 27 days to complete one orbit around the Earth. This is known as a sidereal month, which is the time it takes for the Moon to return to the same position relative to the stars. During this time, the Moon travels a full 360 degrees around the Earth.

The statement that "Earth's gravity is 1/6 of the Moon" is false. In reality, the Moon's gravity is about 1/6th of the Earth's gravity. The Moon has a weaker gravitational pull compared to Earth, which is why objects and individuals weigh less on the Moon.

This statement is false. Earth only has one moon, which is commonly known as "the Moon". Despite some claims that Earth has more than one moon, there is no scientific evidence to support this. The idea that Earth has multiple moons is a misconception that has been debunked by astronomers.

The statement is false because the moon does not have an atmosphere similar to Mars. In fact, the moon has no atmosphere at all. Mars, on the other hand, has a thin atmosphere composed mostly of carbon dioxide. Therefore, the statement is incorrect.

The statement is false because it takes the Moon approximately 29.5 days to complete a lunar cycle, not 27 days. This is because the lunar cycle is based on the Moon's orbit around the Earth, which is not a perfect circle but rather an elliptical shape. As a result, the Moon's speed varies throughout its orbit, causing the lunar cycle to be slightly longer than 27 days.

A micromoon is most likely to occur during the apogee of the lunar cycle. The term "micromoon" refers to the phenomenon when the moon appears smaller and dimmer than usual because it is at its furthest point from Earth. This occurs during the apogee, which is when the moon is farthest away from Earth in its elliptical orbit. In contrast, the perigee is when the moon is closest to Earth, which results in a "supermoon" where the moon appears larger and brighter than usual. Therefore, the statement that a micromoon is most likely to occur during the perigee is false.

The statement that the Moon's volume is the same as the Atlantic Ocean Basin is false. The Moon's volume is much smaller than the volume of the Atlantic Ocean Basin. The Moon has a volume of about 2.197 x 10^10 cubic kilometers, while the Atlantic Ocean Basin has a volume of about 3.332 x 10^7 cubic kilometers. Therefore, the statement is incorrect.

The statement is false because the Moon is actually much smaller than Mercury. Mercury has a diameter of about 4,880 kilometers, while the Moon has a diameter of about 3,474 kilometers. Therefore, the Moon is significantly smaller than Mercury, not just a little larger.

On day 29.5 of the lunar cycle, you will not see a full Moon. A lunar cycle lasts for approximately 29.5 days, so on day 29.5, the Moon would be in its last phase before the new Moon. A full Moon occurs around day 14 or 15 of the lunar cycle when the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, and its entire illuminated side is visible from Earth.

The statement is false. The Mars-sized object that crashed into Earth and formed the Moon is not called Ceres. Ceres is actually the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The correct name for the object that collided with Earth is Theia.

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The statement is false because lunar maria are actually darker in color and lower in elevation compared to the lunar highlands. Lunar maria are large, flat plains on the Moon's surface that are formed by ancient volcanic activity. They are composed of dark basaltic lava flows, which give them a darker appearance. In contrast, the lunar highlands are lighter in color and have a higher elevation, consisting of rugged mountains and cratered terrains.

The given statement is false. Gene Shoemaker was indeed vital to NASA, but he did not make a map of the moon using a telescope in 1610. This is incorrect because Gene Shoemaker was born in 1928 and did not make any contributions to NASA until the 1960s. Additionally, the telescope was not invented until the early 17th century, so it would not have been possible for Shoemaker to have used a telescope in 1610. Therefore, the correct answer is false.

The explanation for the given correct answer, which is True, is that the rotation of the Moon has indeed slowed down over time. This is known as tidal locking, where the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth. As a result, the Moon's rotation is now synchronized with its orbit around the Earth. Due to this slow rotation, the Moon no longer generates a significant magnetic field and therefore cannot create magnetic poles.

A supermoon is most likely to occur during the perigee of a lunar orbit, not the apogee. The term "supermoon" refers to a full moon or new moon that coincides with the moon's closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit. This is known as the perigee. During this time, the moon appears larger and brighter in the sky. In contrast, the apogee is the farthest point in the moon's orbit from Earth, and a supermoon is not likely to occur during this phase. Therefore, the statement is false.

The statement suggests that the Earth was struck by a Mars-sized planet, which is not supported by scientific evidence. The Moon Fission Theory proposes that the Moon was formed from a chunk of the Earth that broke off due to centrifugal force. It does not involve a collision with another planet. Therefore, the correct answer is False.

Solar eclipses are shorter than lunar eclipses because the Moon's shadow is larger than the shadow of Earth. This means that during a solar eclipse, the Moon's shadow moves across the Earth's surface at a faster rate, resulting in a shorter duration of the eclipse. In contrast, during a lunar eclipse, the Earth's shadow covers the Moon, which takes longer to pass through, leading to a longer duration of the eclipse.

A synodic month does not last 27 days. A synodic month is the time it takes for the Moon to go through its phases and return to the same phase again, which is approximately 29.5 days. Therefore, the given statement is false.