14.Lecture4.Introt.pptVIP

Lecture 4The Lunar Environment Moon Statistics Lunar Exploration Tides Ice, Crust and Terrain Phenomenology of Asteroid Impacts. Phenomenology of Asteroid Impacts. A Taxonomy of Impact Craters A Taxonomy of Impact Craters Examples of Crater Types Craters and Rocks Near Side 90 Degrees East Far Side 90 Degrees West Near Side Origin of the Moon Origin of the Moon – Giant Impact Simulation Origin of the Moon – Giant Impact Simulation Origin of the Moon – Giant Impact Simulation Origin of the Moon – Giant Impact Simulation Origin of the Moon – Giant Impact Theory * * -233°C Minimum surface temperature 123°C Maximum surface temperature -153°C Mean surface temperature (night) 107°C Mean surface temperature (day) 0.12 Visual geometric albedo 2.38 Equatorial escape velocity (km/sec) 1.62 Equatorial surface gravity (m/sec^2) 5.1454 Orbital inclination (degrees) 1.5424 Tilt of axis (degrees) 0.0549 Orbital eccentricity 29.53059 Average length of lunar day (days) 27.32166 Rotational period (days) = Orbital Period 384,400 Mean distance from Earth (km) 3.34 Mean density (gm/cm^3) 1,737.4 Equatorial radius (km) 1.2298e-02 Mass (Earth = 1) The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth Orbit radius: 384,400 km, Diameter: 3476 km, Mass: 7.35e22 kg Called Luna by the Romans, Selene and Artemis by the Greeks  Known since prehistoric times, it is the second brightest object  in the sky after the Sun. As the Moon orbits around the Earth once per month, the angle  between the Earth, the Moon and the Sun changes; we see this  as the cycle of the Moons phases.  The time between successive new moons is 29.5 days (709  hours), slightly different from the Moons orbital period  (measured against the stars) since the Earth moves a  significant distance in its orbit around the Sun in that time. ??The Moon was first visited by the Soviet  spacecraft Luna 2 in 1959.  It is the only extraterrestrial body to  have been visited by humans.  The first