Earth-Moon system

Question 1

What did Eratosthenes measure?

Answer 1

The size of the Earth using an astronomical technique.

Question 2

What did Aristarchus use to estimate the distance to the moon?

Answer 2

Lunar Eclipses

Question 3

What is the terminator and how does it vary?

Answer 3

It’s the longitude on the Moon at the edge of the shadow region and it’s location changes daily.

Question 4

What does the terminator show?

Answer 4

The rims and bowls of the Moon’s craters

Question 5

What is tidal friction?

Answer 5

Frictional forces that result from the movement of tides on a rotating object caused by its gravitational interactions with another object.

Question 6

Does the moon rotate as it revolves around the Earth?

Answer 6

Yes

Question 7

What is the Synodic period of the Moon?

Answer 7

The time between two full moons is 29.5 days

Question 8

What does the Moons range of declinations depend on?

Answer 8

The tilt of the orbit about the lines of nodes

Question 9

What is the precession of the Moons orbit relevant to?

Answer 9

Its position in the sky and to why eclipses happen in different dates every year

Question 10

What happens at a Lunar standstill?

Answer 10

The range of the declination of the Moon reaches a maximum

Question 11

When do lunar eclipses happen?

Answer 11

At full Moon

Question 12

What does the inclination of the Moon’s orbit mean for an eclipse?

Answer 12

There may be no eclipse, partial eclipse, or total eclipse

Question 13

What is the maximum duration of an eclipse?

Answer 13

1.8 hours

Question 14

What is the cause of a red Moon?

Answer 14

Blue is scattered away more than the red that is refracted towards the Moon

Question 15

What happens at new moon?

Answer 15

The moons shadow falls on the Earth

Question 16

When do we get a total eclipse?

Answer 16

When the moon id close to the Earth and the Umbra just reaches the Earth.

Question 17

What can the Moon’s surface be divided into?

Answer 17

Maria: Any lowlands of the Moon or Mars that resemble a sea when viewed from Earth and Mountainous/ Cratered regions.

Question 18

What is a meterorite?

Answer 18

An interplanetary chunk of matter that has struck a planet or Moon.

Question 19

What causes craters on the Moon?

Answer 19

Impacts from Meterorites

Question 20

How do we know the moon has no atmosphere?

Answer 20

Sharp occultation of stars
No spectroscopic observation of elements
Low scape velocity (Gravity)

Question 21

Are craters always circular?

Answer 21

Yes whatever the impact angle

Question 22

Why is there almost no maria on the far side of the Moon?

Answer 22

The crust is thicker there

Question 23

Do larger craters have larger central cones?

Answer 23

No smaller

Question 24

When was the moon formed?

Answer 24

About 4.6 Billion years ago

Question 25

What do overlapping craters provide information about?

Answer 25

The order of events in the Moons history

Question 26

How can the age of rocks be determined?

Answer 26

With radioactive Dating

Question 27

What is the Theory on how the moon was created?

Answer 27

Large impact theory: A large body collides with the Earth , eject material into space and this material later formed the moon. e.g. A mars sized body.