5 facts about the Moon that will surprise you

There are several curious and surprising facts about the Moon. We’ve rounded up a few, such as man-made objects left behind on the Moon, its possible origin, and more.

Do you know some of the most curious facts about the Moon? It is Earth’s closest neighbor in space, making it one of the most familiar objects in the sky. Even so, there is a lot to discover on ours Natural satelliteespecially when it comes to strange and curious facts about the Moon.

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The Moon is the largest and brightest object in the night sky, but its role goes beyond: it contributes to the climate stability of our planet, causes tides and much more. But after all, do you know how it was formed? And have you ever stopped to think that there are several man-made objects on the lunar surface?

Check out these and other curious facts about our natural satellite below:

1. The Moon was born from an impact

The most accepted theory of how the moon was formed describes that it was born from a large collision, which occurred between an object the size of Mars and the Earth. The impact appears to have occurred about 95 million years ago and released debris that accumulated and formed what is now our natural satellite.

Since we’re talking about the Moon’s past, it’s worth remembering that it was much closer to us when it formed. Computer models suggest that, at that time, our natural satellite could have been just 25,000 kilometers from Earth – today the average distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384,000 kilometers.

2. The Moon is moving away from the Earth

Since we are talking about distance between earth and moon, it is worth remembering that our natural satellite is moving further away every year. As lunar gravity hits our planet, it forms ocean tides while slowing Earth’s rotation.

Meanwhile, the Moon gains orbital speed and broadens its orbit to maintain system dynamics. As a result, every year it moves 3.78 centimeters away from us, gaining orbital speed and even “stealing” the speed of rotation of the Earth.

3. Moondust is strange and dangerous

A dust covering the surface of the moon it’s made up of crushed rocks and easily soaks into surfaces — the Apollo astronauts say so, as dust got into and out of the lunar module during entry and exit and affected instruments, mechanisms and more. Also, it is highly abrasive and has damaged space suits.

Harrison Schmitt, an Apollo 17 astronaut, described that the moondust smelled like gunpowder. Another curious feature of the dust is that it caused so-called “moon fever” in astronauts who inhaled it, such as sneezing and nasal congestion. To this day, space agencies are looking for ways to deal with these particles and avoid the damage they cause.

4. The Moon has water

For centuries, astronomers have debated whether there is water on the Moon. It was in 1645 that the Dutch astronomer Michael van Langren published the first known map of our natural satellite, which described the her dark spots like “maria”, the Latin word for “seas”. Today we already know that these regions are plains created by volcanic eruptions.

However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t water on the Moon. There have already been detections of ice trapped in the dust and minerals of lunar regions in permanent shadows, and in 2020, the NASA’s SOFIA observatory has revealed the water on the illuminated part of the lunar surface.

5. There are man-made objects on the Moon

There are a number of man-made objects on the Moon, such as a golden olive branch representing peace, lunar rovers, a plaque honoring deceased astronauts, and more. Ah, the over 90 bags full of excrement of astronauts from the Apollo program missions they were also left there.

In case you were wondering about flags left by astronauts, like the one planted by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin during Apollo 11, know that they have probably already lost their colors, as they have spent decades exposed to sunlight. Since there is no wind on our natural satellite, the footprints left by astronauts must remain there for millions of years.

Source: Astronomy, National Geographic, NASA, Ohio State University, RMG extension

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Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.