About: Moon
It is bliss to watch the spots on the moon in a clear sky with twinkling stars. But, have you ever wondered that just like any beautiful thing, the moon does have some flaws. As we think, moon is not at all a plain white surface. It has many depressions, mountains on it. Though we fantasize it a lot, at the end of the day it is just another geographical element just like the earth moon is the only natural satellite that earth has.
How did the Moon form?
Scientists believe that the Moon formed early in the solar system’s history after Earth and an object about the size of Mars smashed into each other. The impact sent chunks of Earth and the impactor into space that were pulled together by gravity, creating the Moon.
The most widely accepted scientific explanation for the Moon’s formation is the Giant Impact Hypothesis, which suggests that the Moon was formed from the debris left over after a giant impact between Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia. Here’s how the hypothesis proposes the Moon was formed:
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Early Solar System: About 4.5 billion years ago, the solar system was still forming. Earth was a young planet, and there were many large planetesimals and protoplanets in orbit around the Sun.
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Giant Impact: A Mars-sized body, often referred to as Theia, collided with the early Earth in a massive impact event. This collision was highly energetic, causing Theia and a significant portion of Earth’s mantle to be ejected into space.
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Debris Disk: The material ejected into space from the impact formed a debris disk around Earth. Over time, this debris disk began to coalesce due to gravitational forces, forming clumps of material.
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Moon Formation: The debris in the disk eventually came together to form the Moon. Initially, the Moon was much closer to Earth than it is now. Gravitational interactions and tidal forces between the Earth and the Moon caused the Moon to move gradually away from Earth over millions of years to its current position.
This Giant Impact Hypothesis explains several features of the Earth-Moon system, including the similarity in isotopic compositions of Earth and Moon rocks, as well as the Moon’s relatively small iron core compared to Earth’s core. The impact also likely contributed to the tilt of Earth’s axis, which has important implications for Earth’s climate and seasons.
It’s important to note that while the Giant Impact Hypothesis is the leading theory, the exact details of the Moon’s formation are still an active area of research, and scientists continue to study lunar samples and planetary formation processes to refine our understanding of this event.
How do we study the Moon?
Even thousands of years ago, humans drew pictures to track the changes of the Moon. Later, people used their observations of the Moon to create calendars.
Today, we study the Moon using telescopes and spacecraft. For example, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been circling the Moon and sending back measurements since 2009.
The Moon is the only other planetary body that humans have visited. On July 20, 1969, NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first people to set foot on the dusty surface of the Moon. Ten other American astronauts followed. They collected hundreds of pounds of lunar soil and rock samples, conducted experiments and installed equipment for follow-up measurements.
The Moon’s surface is covered in various features, including craters, mountains, valleys, and plains. The “spots” you might be referring to could be the impact craters. These craters are formed by the impact of asteroids or comets on the Moon’s surface. They vary in size from small pits to large basins, with the largest and most famous one being the South Pole-Aitken basin.
Apart from craters, there are also dark and light spots on the Moon’s surface. The dark areas are called lunar maria, which are vast plains formed by ancient volcanic activity. The light areas are the lunar highlands, which are rugged and densely cratered regions.
If you are referring to something specific or if you have any other questions about the Moon, please feel free to ask!
There are many prominent features on the Moon, including craters, seas (maria), and mountain ranges. Here are the names and locations of ten notable spots on the Moon:
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Sea of Tranquility (Mare Tranquillitatis): Located on the Moon’s equator, it’s the site where Apollo 11, the first manned mission to the Moon, landed in 1969.
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Sea of Serenity (Mare Serenitatis): Another prominent lunar mare located to the east of the Sea of Tranquility.
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Sea of Crises (Mare Crisium): A large circular plain located in the Moon’s eastern hemisphere.
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Sea of Fertility (Mare Fecunditatis): A lunar mare located in the southeastern part of the Moon.
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Sea of Nectar (Mare Nectaris): A small lunar mare located in the southwestern part of the Moon.
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Crater Tycho: Located in the southern highlands of the Moon, Tycho is a prominent impact crater with a prominent ray system.
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Crater Copernicus: A large impact crater located in the eastern part of the Moon. It’s one of the most well-known craters visible from Earth.
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Crater Plato: A relatively small crater located in the northern part of the Moon. It’s notable for its flat floor and central peak.
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Crater Archimedes: A large crater located in the northwest part of the Moon, known for its smooth floor and terraced walls.
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Apennine Mountains: A mountain range located on the eastern rim of the Sea of Showers (Mare Imbrium). The Apollo 15 mission landed near this mountain range.
These are just a few of the many interesting features on the Moon’s surface. Each of these spots has its own unique geological and historical significance.
What are these depressions?
Lunar craters are bowl-shaped features on the moon’s surface caused by volcanism and cratering. They are formed when asteroids and meteorites, which are nothing but dust and rocky substances in space, hit the moon’s surface. Craters can be as small as a mile long and as big as a sea. There are hundreds of thousands of such craters on the moon. The largest one of all is near the South pole, the Aitkin basin. It is as long as 2,500 kilometers and it is also one of the oldest ones. lunar craters are formed due to asteroids and space dust.
It appears your question is quite broad, and without specific context, it’s challenging to provide a precise answer. Depressions can refer to various geological features on the Moon, Earth, or other celestial bodies. Here are a few possibilities:
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Impact Craters: Depressions on the Moon’s surface are often impact craters formed by the collision of asteroids or meteoroids. These impact events create circular depressions of various sizes.
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Lunar Maria: Some depressions on the Moon are large, flat plains called lunar maria. These are ancient basaltic plains created by volcanic activity early in the Moon’s history.
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Lunar Rilles: These are long, narrow depressions on the Moon’s surface. Rilles are thought to be collapsed lava tubes or channels formed by ancient volcanic activity.
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Lunar Pits: Certain depressions on the Moon are referred to as pits. These are small, steep-walled holes that are thought to be formed by the collapse of underground lava tubes.
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Earth’s Depressions: On Earth, depressions could refer to various geological features such as sinkholes, basins, valleys, or canyons. These are formed by processes like erosion, tectonic activity, or dissolution of underlying rock layers.
If you have a specific type of depression or a particular celestial body in mind, please provide more details, and I’ll be happy to offer a more targeted explanation.
Why Are There So Many Dark Spots On The Moon?
The dark spots on the moon are craters that were formed by collisions from comets, meteorites, and asteroids. The moon has no atmosphere, so there is no erosion, and the craters are not recycled like on Earth.
The dark spots on the lunar surface are actually craters of varying sizes that formed due to collisions from celestial bodies, such as comets, meteorites and asteroids in the past, which left large, excavated holes after the impact.
At some point in your life, you’ve observed that our old, reliable moon is packed with a number of dark spots on its surface. If you haven’t ever paid attention to this, make sure that you do the next time you’re out stargazing, preferably when the full moon is out.
Why does the moon have so many craters?
Craters are not confined to the moon; they are found on many astronomical bodies including the earth. But, comparatively the moon has more craters. The earth has many layers of atmosphere protecting it and also maintaining the ideal temperature. When any external bodies enter the earth’s surface, they burn up and could not affect the earth’s surface much. But the moon doesn’t have such a protective atmosphere hence, ends up having many craters and also lack of water and wind on the moon takes a lot of time for these craters to get eroded.
The Moon has many craters because it lacks a significant atmosphere and geological activity that could erase these impact features over time. Here’s why the Moon has so many craters:
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No Atmosphere: Unlike Earth, the Moon has a very thin and tenuous atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere protects it from many smaller meteoroids, which burn up upon entering our atmosphere. However, the Moon’s atmosphere is not substantial enough to provide significant protection, allowing meteoroids to collide directly with its surface, creating craters upon impact.
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No Geological Activity: The Moon is geologically inactive, meaning it doesn’t have processes like weathering, erosion, or tectonic activity that can erase or modify craters over time. On Earth, geological processes such as wind and water erosion, as well as volcanic activity, continuously reshape the surface, gradually erasing the impact features. The Moon lacks these processes, allowing craters to remain relatively unchanged for billions of years.
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Age: The Moon is about 4.5 billion years old, and during this vast period, it has been bombarded by countless asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. Each of these impacts created a crater, contributing to the Moon’s heavily cratered surface.
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Limited “Resurfacing” Events: While the Moon lacks ongoing geological processes, there have been specific events in its history, such as volcanic activity and large impacts, which resurfaced parts of the Moon. However, these events are relatively rare and do not occur frequently enough to significantly alter the overall cratered nature of the Moon’s surface.
In summary, the Moon’s lack of atmosphere, geological inactivity, and the age of the solar system have all contributed to the formation and preservation of the Moon’s numerous craters.
How do you name them?
Just like you and me, lunar craters also have their names. But, unlike us, they do not have the same names for two craters….. Lunar craters are named by an association called International Astronomical Union and then voted upon. Different lunar craters named so far are, The Jackson crater, The Mitra Crater, The Korolev crater, etc.,
Lunar features, including craters, are named using a system established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU is the organization responsible for naming celestial bodies and their surface features. Here are the general guidelines for naming lunar craters:
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Prominent Craters: Large, well-defined craters are usually named after notable scientists, philosophers, and explorers from history. For example, craters on the Moon are named after famous scientists like Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler.
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Small Craters: Smaller craters are often named after scientists, scholars, and artists who have made significant contributions to the fields of astronomy or planetary science. Some smaller craters might also be named after deceased astronauts.
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Historical Context: In some cases, craters are named after events, mythological figures, or places of historical or cultural significance.
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Approval Process: The names are proposed by scientists and are subject to approval by the IAU. This ensures that the names are appropriate and adhere to established guidelines.
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Localization: The position of the crater is specified by latitude and longitude, and the name is officially assigned to that specific geographic location on the Moon’s surface.
It’s important to note that naming celestial features is a formal process governed by international agreements to maintain consistency and avoid confusion. This process ensures that names have significance and are not arbitrary, allowing for a deeper understanding of the Moon’s surface features and their historical or scientific context.
WHO CAN NAME SITES ON MOON?
Naming spots and places on lunar surfaces started as early as the 17th century in Europe and in the 20th century the United States and the USSR when the nations sending lunar explorations started assigning names to the lunar spots.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) determines some rules for Space activities. India is one of the 92 members of the space body.
“The IAU has been the arbiter of planetary and satellite nomenclature since its inception in 1919,” its website reads.
However, with the advancement of technology and exploration of the darker side of the moon, more lunar sports like craters were assigned names of scientists and engineers. Later, these names were sent to the IAU for its approval, according to The Indian Express.
Most of the informal names assigned during Apollo mission were later given “official” status by the IAU. It also approved eight Chinese names for features around the area on the Moon explored during China’s spacecraft Chang’e-5.
“An informal practice of naming landmarks was common during the Apollo missions. Names were given to the small craters and mountains near each landing site (e.g., Shorty, St. George, Stone Mountain) but official names were used as well (e.g., Hadley Rille),” scientist Paul D Spudis wrote in the Smithsonian Magazine in 2012.
PROCESS FOR CONSIDERING NAMES?
The IAU’s Working Groups handle the process of naming lunar spots, though its decisions and recommendations are not enforceable by any international law.
However, there are established conventions regarding astronomical objects and processes which are as follows:
- When the first images of the planet surface or satellite are obtained, then themes for naming features are chosen and names of important features are proposed by members of the appropriate IAU task group.
- After higher resolution images are available, the names for additional features may be requested by investigators mapping or describing specific surfaces or geological formations.
- Though anyone can suggest that a specific name, but there is no guarantee that the name will be approved. The names will be successfully reviewed by a task group are submitted by the task group chair to the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN).
- However, the lunar or planetary surface cannot have names of political, military or religious significance except for names of political figures prior to the 19th century.
- After successful review by vote of the WGPSN members, the names are considered officially approved and can be used on maps and in publications.
LAW REGARDING OWNERSHIP, NAMING SITES
The United Nations 1966 Outer Space Treaty, which came during the Covid War Era when the USSR and US were locked in competition, said that no nation can claim sovereignty over the moon – or other celestial bodies – and that the exploration of space should be carried out for the benefit of all countries.
The 1979 The Moon Agreement states that no part of the moon “shall become property of any State, international intergovernmental or non-governmental organization, national organization or non-governmental entity or of any natural person.”
Therefore, the law clearly states that nations cannot law claim to moon or its land, however they can carry out certain activities.
According to Alexander Soucek, head of public international law at the European Space Agency, “A nation can plant a flag on the moon, but it doesn’t have any legal meaning or consequence.”
However, there is no legislation regarding naming places on the Moon.
-by Krishna Amrutha
Content writer (Erakina by RTMN)
03-11-2021
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