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| | Mooń (Latin - Luna) is an unique natural satellite of the Earth. It is second brightest object in the sky after Sun.
Romans called the Earth satellite as Moon (Latin - Luna)
General characteristics:
As Moon makes complete orbit around the earth with cycle per month, periodic variations between Earth, Moon and the Sun changes; we observe this phenomenon as a cycle of lunar phases. Periodic variation between subsequent new lunar constitute 29.5 days (709 hours).
Though Moon also rotates about its axis, it always faces towards the Earth with the same side. Matter is that, the moon is celestial body with displaced centre of gravity (which is discussed below). An example of such body in ordinary life is toy "Cork-tumbler” or an ordinary hammer with steel striker and wooden handle. Such bodies, while moving around the orbit, are subjected to so-called gravitational force, under the influence of which, the bodies always tend to turn with heavier part towards gravitation source, around which the bodies rotate. For a long time, this physical effect is used for orientation of artificial satellites. This effect is the factor which "forces" the Moon (and not only the moon) to be turned one side towards gravitation source, instead of exact coincidence of rotation periods around its axis and round the Earth, about which is explained in classical works. Such position has developed, even during formation of Moon, when, according to one of the hypotheses, as a result of space disaster, big clod of substance (future Moon) has been pulled out from crust of more massive body (probably Earth), possessing the atmosphere. Thus, flaming clod of substance, saturated with gases, was formed in the space. Under the influence of gravitational force, heavy rocks of flaming clod began to descend towards the Earth and light fractions moved towards opposite side. Gases, dissolved in the clod, began to evaporate rapidly, merging into small and big bubbles, which burst after rising onto surface and forming craters. Thus, surface of Moon is literally hot period and reminded boiling porridge. Under the influence of same gravitational force, gases and other light fractions started moving towards the other side of moon. For this reason, craters are found more on the other side of moon than on the side, visible from earth. Not all gas bubbles could escape onto the surface and break it. Many of them thickened in gradually hardening (due to cooling) near-surface layer, forming numerous cavities with residues of relict gases. These, long time cooled gases penetrate onto the surface of Moon through the cracks, formed due to tidal strains in the crusts of moon, which are quite often observed from earth.
Nevertheless, since rotation of Moon round the Earth along elliptic orbit takes place unevenly, it is possible to observe 59 percent of lunar surface from earth.
Besides, during its rotation and orbital motion, Moon makes small swings of natural body (so called “Physical librations”) at equilibrium position for a value of 0.02o along longitude with period of 1 year and 0.04 ° along latitude with period of 6 years.
Since atmosphere is absent on Moon, during daytime, surface of moon accumulates up to +120 °C and cools down to −160 °C during nights and shades. Also, sky on Moon is always black even during the daytime. Huge disk of Earth is visible from Moon by 3.67 times more than the Moon from the Earth and hangs in sky almost stationary. Phases of Earth, visible from the Moon, are directly opposite to lunar phases on the Earth.
Illumination due to full moon on earth's surface constitutes 0.25 lux. |
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The Lunar eclipse will be seen in the western hemisphere late Wednesday and early Thursday - recreating the eclipse that saved Christopher Columbus on February 29, 1504. Columbus correctly calculated the day of the eclipse and when his crew ran out of food and faced hostile local inhabitants in Jamaica, he told the locals that if they do not cooperate he would make the Moon disappear. After Columbus "made the Moon disappear", locals begged him to return the Moon to the sky, for any food and supplies he would need.
I cannot avoid it haha
