presentation about the moon

What Are the Moon’s Phases?

If you have looked into the night sky, you may have noticed the Moon appears to change shape each night. Some nights, the Moon might look like a narrow crescent. Other nights, the Moon might look like a bright circle. And on other nights, you might not be able to see the Moon at all. The different shapes of the Moon that we see at different times of the month are called the Moon’s phases .

The Moon’s appearance changes throughout the month. Credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

Why does this happen? The shape of the Moon isn’t changing throughout the month. However, our view of the Moon does change.

The Moon does not produce its own light. There is only one source of light in our solar system, and that is the Sun. Without the Sun, our Moon would be completely dark. What you may have heard referred to as “moonlight” is actually just sunlight reflecting off of the Moon’s surface.

The Sun’s light comes from one direction, and it always illuminates, or lights up, one half of the Moon – the side of the Moon that is facing the Sun. The other side of the Moon is dark.

The position of the Moon and the Sun during Each of the Moon’s phases and the Moon as it appears from Earth during each phase. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

On Earth, our view of the illuminated part of the Moon changes each night, depending on where the Moon is in its orbit, or path, around Earth. When we have a full view of the completely illuminated side of the Moon, that phase is known as a full moon.

But following the night of each full moon, as the Moon orbits around Earth, we start to see less of the Moon lit by the Sun. Eventually, the Moon reaches a point in its orbit when we don’t see any of the Moon illuminated. At that point, the far side of the Moon is facing the Sun. This phase is called a new moon. During the new moon, the side facing Earth is dark.

The eight Moon phases:

🌑 New : We cannot see the Moon when it is a new moon.

🌒 Waxing Crescent : In the Northern Hemisphere, we see the waxing crescent phase as a thin crescent of light on the right.

🌓 First Quarter : We see the first quarter phase as a half moon.

🌔 Waxing Gibbous : The waxing gibbous phase is between a half moon and full moon. Waxing means it is getting bigger.

🌕 Full : We can see the Moon completely illuminated during full moons.

🌖 Waning Gibbous : The waning gibbous phase is between a full moon and a half moon. Waning means it is getting smaller.

🌗 Third Quarter : We see the third quarter moon as a half moon, too. It is the opposite half as illuminated in the first quarter moon.

🌘 Waning Crescent : In the Northern Hemisphere, we see the waning crescent phase as a thin crescent of light on the left.

The Moon displays these eight phases one after the other as it moves through its cycle each month. It takes about 27.3 days for the Moon to orbit Earth. However, because of how sunlight hits the Moon, it takes about 29.5 days to go from one new moon to the next new moon.

Here’s what the Moon looks like right now from Earth:

Use this tool to see the current Moon phase and to plan ahead for other Moon views. Credit: NASA

Interested in learning more about the Moon?

• Learn all about our Moon here .
• Learn about the types of full moons here .
• Learn why the Moon has craters here .
• Learn about lunar eclipses here .
• Make Oreo Moon phases !

Related Resources for Educators

Daily Moon Guide Moon Phases Simulation Viewed from Earth and Space Our World: Moon Phases Make a Moon Phase Calendar and Calculator

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Bon Voyaged

35 Fascinating Facts About The Moon

Posted: April 1, 2024 | Last updated: April 1, 2024

The Moon, our closest celestial neighbor, has captivated human curiosity and imagination for centuries. Serving as Earth’s only permanent natural satellite, it plays a pivotal role in shaping our planet’s tides, influencing cultural narratives, and advancing our understanding of the cosmos. From its formation and geological features to its influence on Earth’s rotation and potential for future colonization, the Moon offers a unique window into the workings of our Solar System and the potential for human exploration beyond our planet. This collection of fascinating facts unveils the Moon’s mysteries, highlighting its significance in scientific research, cultural significance, and exploration potential, providing a comprehensive overview of this enigmatic satellite that lights up our night sky.

The Moon is Earth’s Only Permanent Natural Satellite

The Moon plays a significant role as Earth’s only permanent natural satellite, captivating observers for millennia. It ranks as the fifth largest moon in the Solar System, showcasing its considerable size relative to other moons orbiting planets. Its presence influences various Earthly phenomena, including tidal movements, and has been a focal point for scientific study and exploration. The Moon’s unique relationship with Earth, marked by its consistent orbit and visibility, has made it a key subject in the study of planetary science and space exploration.

Distance from Earth

The Moon is located approximately 384,400 kilometers (238,855 miles) away from Earth, a distance that allows it to be the only celestial body visited by humans beyond our planet. This relatively close proximity in cosmic terms facilitates its impact on Earth, such as the creation of tides. The distance between Earth and the Moon has been measured with increasing accuracy over the years, thanks to laser ranging experiments that reflect lasers off mirrors left on the lunar surface by Apollo astronauts. Understanding this distance is crucial for satellite communications, space exploration, and even in calculating the precise gravitational influences on Earth’s oceans.

Orbital Period

The Moon completes its orbit around Earth in approximately 27.3 days, a period known as a sidereal month. This orbital characteristic is essential for understanding the Moon’s phases and the timing of eclipses, which have both fascinated and aided humanity in timekeeping for centuries. The precision of the Moon’s orbit also helps scientists study the dynamics of Earth-Moon interactions, including tidal forces and the Moon’s gradual recession from Earth. The orbital period reflects the intricate dance between Earth and the Moon, governed by their mutual gravitational pull.

Synchronous Rotation

The Moon’s synchronous rotation means it rotates on its axis in roughly the same time it takes to orbit Earth, resulting in the same hemisphere always facing our planet. This phenomenon, known as tidal locking, is why we only see one side of the Moon from Earth, commonly referred to as the “near side.” The far side, or the “dark side” as it’s mistakenly called, was unseen by human eyes until the era of space exploration. Synchronous rotation is a fascinating aspect of the Moon’s physics, illustrating the gravitational interactions that have shaped the Earth-Moon system over billions of years.

The Dark Side of the Moon

The far side of the Moon, often called the “dark side,” is a misnomer because it receives just as much sunlight as the side facing Earth. This region remained a mystery until the advent of lunar orbiters in the 1960s, which provided the first glimpses of the lunar far side. Unlike the near side, the far side features a rugged terrain heavily cratered and with few of the dark, basaltic plains known as maria. The exploration of the far side has challenged scientists to understand the differences in lunar geography and geology between the two hemispheres.

With a diameter of about 3,475 kilometers (2,159 miles), the Moon is roughly one-fourth the diameter of Earth, making it a significant presence in our night sky. Its size relative to Earth is unusually large when compared to other moons in the Solar System, which has led to numerous theories about its formation. This substantial size affects Earth in many ways, including its gravitational pull that leads to tides. The Moon’s considerable volume and mass have made it an object of fascination and study, offering insights into the formation of the Earth-Moon system and the dynamics of celestial bodies.

Gravitational Influence

The Moon’s gravitational pull is a dominant force that governs the Earth’s tides, creating the regular rise and fall of ocean levels known as tidal movements. This gravitational interaction not only influences the marine environment but also affects the Earth’s crust, causing slight deformations. The study of these tidal forces provides important insights into the internal structure of Earth and the dynamics of Earth-Moon interactions. The Moon’s gravitational influence is a key factor in the stability of Earth’s climate and the rhythm of life for many species, underlining the interconnectedness of celestial mechanics and terrestrial life.

Lunar Phases

The Moon goes through a series of phases, including new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter, which are determined by its position relative to Earth and the Sun. These phases have been observed by humans for millennia, serving as a basis for calendars and timekeeping. The changing appearance of the Moon throughout the month has also played a significant role in cultural and religious practices around the world. Understanding lunar phases is crucial for planning astronomical observations and space missions, as well as for the navigation and exploration of the Moon’s surface.

Surface Conditions

The Moon’s surface is a desolate landscape with extreme conditions, characterized by a very thin atmosphere, or exosphere, that is incapable of supporting life as we know it. Its terrain is marked by dust, rocks, and a vast number of craters from asteroid impacts, creating a rugged and barren environment. The absence of a significant atmosphere means that the Moon’s surface is exposed to the vacuum of space, leading to extreme temperature variations between day and night. These harsh conditions pose significant challenges for human exploration and the potential establishment of lunar bases, requiring innovative solutions to protect astronauts and equipment.

Temperature Variations

Temperatures on the Moon can swing dramatically, ranging from about -173°C (-280°F) during the lunar night to 127°C (260°F) in the lunar day. These extreme temperature fluctuations are due to the Moon’s lack of atmosphere, which on Earth serves to moderate temperature extremes. The stark difference in temperature between day and night poses a significant challenge for the technology and materials required for lunar exploration and potential colonization. Understanding and adapting to these temperature variations is crucial for the design of spacecraft, rovers, and habitats intended for lunar missions.

Lunar Eclipses

Lunar eclipses occur when Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting Earth’s shadow over the Moon. These events can only happen during a full moon when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align closely enough for the shadow to fall on the Moon. Lunar eclipses are visible from anywhere on Earth’s night side and can range from partial to total eclipses. Observing a lunar eclipse provides a unique opportunity to witness the dynamic interactions within the Earth-Moon-Sun system, offering both a spectacular show and valuable insights for astronomers and enthusiasts alike.

Human Exploration

Human exploration of the Moon began with the historic Apollo 11 mission, which landed the first humans, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, on the Moon in July 1969. This monumental achievement marked the first time humans set foot on another celestial body, fulfilling a centuries-old dream and opening a new era in space exploration. Since then, several other manned missions have visited the Moon, each contributing valuable knowledge about our closest celestial neighbor. The legacy of the Apollo missions continues to inspire future generations of explorers and scientists, with plans for returning humans to the Moon and beyond.

Moonquakes are the lunar equivalent of earthquakes, caused by tidal forces exerted by Earth’s gravitational pull. These quakes can also result from meteorite impacts or thermal expansion of the Moon’s surface as it moves from extreme cold to extreme heat. Moonquakes help scientists understand the Moon’s interior structure and composition, providing clues about its geological history. Although moonquakes are generally less intense than earthquakes, they can last longer due to the Moon’s lack of water to dampen seismic vibrations.

Ancient Volcanic Activity

Evidence of past volcanic activity on the Moon is found in the form of lunar maria, the dark, basaltic plains that are visible from Earth. These maria were formed billions of years ago when magma from the Moon’s interior reached the surface and cooled. The study of lunar volcanic rocks has provided valuable information about the Moon’s thermal history and the process of planetary differentiation. Understanding the volcanic activity on the Moon also aids in comparing it with Earth and other celestial bodies, offering insights into the dynamics of planetary geology.

Scientists have discovered water ice in the permanently shadowed craters at the Moon’s poles, a significant finding for future lunar exploration and potential colonization. This water ice could potentially be used as a resource for future astronauts, for drinking water, oxygen, and even rocket fuel. The presence of water ice also suggests the Moon’s environment is more complex than previously thought, with implications for our understanding of lunar history and the potential for life in the Solar System. The discovery of water ice highlights the importance of lunar exploration in advancing our knowledge of space resources and the possibilities for sustaining human presence beyond Earth.

Origin Theories

The most widely accepted theory for the Moon’s formation suggests it was created from debris resulting from a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body, approximately 4.5 billion years ago. This giant impact hypothesis explains many of the physical characteristics of the Moon, including its composition and orbit. Studies of lunar rocks returned by the Apollo missions have provided crucial evidence supporting this theory. Understanding the Moon’s origin is not only important for lunar science but also offers insights into the formation and evolution of the Earth and other planetary bodies in the Solar System.

Lunar Regolith

The Moon’s surface is covered by a layer of fine dust and rocky debris called regolith, created by billions of years of meteoroid impacts. This regolith varies in thickness across different areas of the Moon, with some places having layers up to 15 meters deep. The composition of lunar regolith provides valuable information about the Moon’s surface processes and history. Studying the regolith is crucial for planning future missions, as it poses challenges for mobility and habitat construction, but also offers resources for construction, shielding, and potentially extracting oxygen.

No Atmosphere

The Moon has a very thin exosphere, but lacks a true atmosphere, which means there is virtually no air or weather as we experience on Earth. This absence of an atmosphere exposes the lunar surface to the harsh environment of space, including extreme temperature variations and solar radiation. The lack of atmosphere also means that sound cannot travel on the Moon, and the sky always appears black, even during the lunar day. Understanding these conditions is essential for the design of life support and protective systems for astronauts on future lunar missions.

First Human on the Moon

Neil Armstrong became the first human to step on the Moon on July 20, 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission, famously declaring, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” This historic event marked a monumental achievement in human history and space exploration, demonstrating the capabilities of human ingenuity and determination. Armstrong, along with Buzz Aldrin, spent a few hours walking on the Moon, collecting samples, and conducting experiments. The success of the Apollo 11 mission inspired a generation of scientists, engineers, and dreamers, paving the way for future space exploration.

Lunar Orbiters

Several spacecraft have been sent to orbit the Moon, providing a wealth of information about its surface, composition, and environment. These lunar orbiters have mapped the Moon’s surface in unprecedented detail, identifying potential landing sites for future missions and uncovering the Moon’s complex geological history. The data collected by these missions has been invaluable for scientific research and planning human and robotic missions to the Moon. Lunar orbiters continue to play a crucial role in our ongoing exploration and understanding of our closest celestial neighbor.

Moon’s Axis Tilt

The Moon’s axis is tilted only about 1.5 degrees relative to Earth, contributing to its relatively stable appearance in the sky. This minimal tilt means that the Moon does not experience seasons as Earth does, leading to a consistent visual presentation throughout the year. The stability of the Moon’s orientation helps astronomers and scientists predict its phases and eclipses with high accuracy. The axis tilt is a crucial factor in understanding the Moon’s rotation and orbit, providing insights into the dynamics of the Earth-Moon system.

Craters Named for Notable People

Many lunar craters are named in honor of scientists, engineers, and explorers who have made significant contributions to our understanding of the Moon and space. This tradition of naming craters provides a way to celebrate the achievements of individuals across various disciplines and cultures. The process is overseen by the International Astronomical Union, ensuring that names are chosen with care and respect for their contributions. Exploring the stories behind the names of lunar craters offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of science and exploration.

Magnetic Anomalies

Certain areas of the Moon exhibit higher magnetic fields, known as magnetic anomalies, which have puzzled scientists for decades. These anomalies suggest that the Moon’s magnetic field was once more powerful than it is today, potentially due to an ancient dynamo effect in its core. The study of these magnetic fields provides insights into the Moon’s interior and its thermal and geological history. Understanding the Moon’s magnetic anomalies is crucial for unraveling the mysteries of lunar formation and evolution, as well as the history of magnetic fields in the Solar System.

Apollo Missions

The Apollo missions, conducted between 1969 and 1972, were a series of manned spaceflights that marked the first time humans landed on and explored the Moon. These missions provided a wealth of scientific data and samples, offering new insights into the Moon’s composition, geology, and history. The success of the Apollo missions demonstrated the feasibility of human space exploration and set the stage for future missions to the Moon and beyond. The legacy of the Apollo missions continues to inspire and inform current and future space exploration efforts, highlighting the achievements of human ingenuity and the potential for further discoveries.

Moon’s Influence on Culture

The Moon has been a central element in various cultures and religions, symbolizing various deities and phenomena. Its phases have been used to mark time, influencing calendars and agricultural practices. The Moon’s appearance in the night sky has inspired countless myths, legends, and artistic expressions around the world. This cultural significance highlights the Moon’s impact on human history and its continued influence on language, art, and spirituality.

Tidal Locking

Tidal locking is the phenomenon that keeps the same face of the Moon towards Earth throughout its orbit. This occurs because the Moon’s rotational period matches its orbital period around Earth, a result of gravitational interactions over billions of years. Tidal locking is a common phenomenon among moons in the Solar System, but the Earth-Moon system is one of the most prominent examples. Understanding tidal locking provides insight into the dynamics of planetary systems and the gravitational forces that shape them.

Lunar Rilles

Lunar rilles are features on the Moon’s surface that resemble channels or valleys and are believed to be formed by ancient lava flows. These rilles provide evidence of the Moon’s volcanic activity and are key to understanding its geological history. They vary in size and shape, indicating different formation processes, such as the collapse of lava tubes or surface fracturing. Studying lunar rilles helps scientists understand the Moon’s interior and its volcanic past, offering clues about the evolution of celestial bodies with volcanic activity.

Lunar Highlands

The lunar highlands are bright, rugged areas on the Moon’s surface, heavily cratered and composed of anorthosite, a type of rock formed from the lunar magma ocean. These highlands are the oldest parts of the Moon, providing insights into its early history and the Solar System’s formation. Their heavily cratered nature is due to the lack of atmospheric erosion, preserving the impact history of the early Solar System. The study of lunar highlands is crucial for understanding the processes of planetary crust formation and the history of meteorite impacts in the Solar System.

Potential for Colonization

The Moon has been proposed as a potential site for future human colonization, thanks to its proximity to Earth and the discovery of resources such as water ice. Establishing a lunar base could serve as a stepping stone for deeper space exploration, including missions to Mars and beyond. The challenges of lunar colonization include providing sustainable life support systems, protecting inhabitants from space radiation, and developing technologies for in-situ resource utilization. The potential for lunar colonization is a driving force behind current space exploration efforts, offering the possibility of expanding human presence in the Solar System.

The Moon’s regolith contains helium-3, a rare isotope on Earth but thought to be more abundant on the Moon, offering potential as a future energy source for fusion power. Helium-3 fusion energy is considered cleaner and safer than current nuclear fission technologies, with minimal radioactive waste. The exploitation of helium-3 as an energy source would require significant technological advances and infrastructure development on the Moon. The prospect of using helium-3 for fusion power adds an important dimension to the economic and strategic value of lunar exploration and colonization.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a NASA mission that has been mapping the Moon’s surface since 2009, providing detailed images and data that have revolutionized our understanding of the Moon. The LRO’s instruments have detected water ice in shadowed craters, explored the lunar exosphere, and provided high-resolution maps of potential landing sites for future missions. This mission has also contributed to our knowledge of lunar geology, surface composition, and topography. The LRO continues to be a vital asset in planning for future lunar exploration and potential human missions to the Moon.

Natural Satellites of Other Planets

While Earth has one moon, other planets in the Solar System have multiple moons, with Jupiter having the most known moons. These natural satellites vary widely in size, composition, and orbit, providing unique opportunities to study the diversity of celestial bodies. The study of moons around other planets enhances our understanding of the Solar System’s formation and the dynamics of planetary systems. Comparing Earth’s Moon to other natural satellites helps scientists understand the unique characteristics and evolution of our own celestial companion.

Impact on Earth’s Rotation

The gravitational pull of the Moon has a subtle but significant effect on Earth’s rotation, contributing to the phenomenon known as the lengthening of days. This tidal interaction between Earth and the Moon causes Earth’s rotation to slow down gradually, leading to longer days over geological time scales. The study of ancient corals and geological records has provided evidence for this gradual change in Earth’s rotational period. Understanding the impact of the Moon on Earth’s rotation helps scientists gain insights into the dynamics of the Earth-Moon system and the long-term changes in our planet’s environment.

The Moon’s Age

Radiometric dating of Moon rocks indicates that the Moon is about 4.5 billion years old, nearly as old as Earth itself. This age suggests that the Moon formed shortly after the Solar System itself, providing a crucial piece of the puzzle in understanding the early history of our planetary neighborhood. The analysis of lunar samples returned by the Apollo missions has been instrumental in dating the Moon and providing insights into its formation and evolution. The Moon’s age and its geological history offer valuable lessons about the processes that shaped the Solar System and the conditions on early Earth.

Inspiration for the Future

Beyond its scientific value, the Moon continues to inspire dreams of a future where humanity spreads beyond Earth. The potential for using the Moon’s resources, from water ice to helium-3, hints at a future where lunar bases or colonies could serve as stepping stones to the greater Solar System. The Moon’s allure challenges us to innovate and overcome the obstacles of living in space, fueling visions of a multi-planetary existence for humanity.

A Unifying Force for Humanity

The exploration of the Moon has been one of the few endeavors that have united humanity in a common cause, transcending borders and differences. The sight of Earthrise from the lunar orbit, a fragile blue sphere hanging in the vastness of space, has become a powerful symbol of our shared home and the need to protect it. As we continue to explore the Moon, it reminds us of our interconnectedness and the collective responsibility to steward not only our planet but the entire cosmos.

As we journey through the intricate details and marvels of the Moon, it becomes clear that this celestial body is more than just a luminous presence in our night sky. It is a cornerstone of scientific inquiry, a beacon for explorers, and a muse for cultures around the globe. The Moon’s profound impact on Earth, its role in the tapestry of the cosmos, and its potential as a stepping stone for future space exploration underscore its significance in our quest for knowledge and adventure beyond our terrestrial confines. As we continue to unlock its secrets, the Moon remains a testament to the boundless curiosity and ingenuity of humanity, encouraging us to look upwards and dream of the possibilities that lie in the vast expanse of space.

For the Latest Travel News, Headlines & Videos, head to Bon Voyaged

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Apollo 14 Presentation

This presentation provides an overview of the Apollo 14 mission to the Moon including highlights, video clips, and images. The presentation is meant for use by anyone who is interested in learning more about Apollo 14, and as a resource for those who may be presenting on the topic. You can download and adapt the slides to your audience and setting. The notes section for each slide contains the image source and additional information.

Last updated: January 2023

Sep 7, 2023

pptx?emrc=660b32cbe72f1 (49.28 MB)

March 22, 2024

Earth Has More Than One Moon

Quirks of orbital mechanics make a cadre of sun-orbiting asteroids appear to be moons of Earth

By Phil Plait

Some asteroids with solar orbits very similar to Earth’s effectively act as quasi-satellites of our planet.

Aleksandra Malysheva/Getty Images

Here’s a trick question: How many moons does Earth have? And to be clear, I mean natural satellites, not human-made ones.

I remind you, this is a trick question.

The answer is one— the moon . See? Tricky. But there’s another part to this: if you change your frame of reference and squint a little bit, the answer is more like seven . And if you broaden your mind a tad more, the number goes up even higher.

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How could that be? To explain, let’s talk about quasi-satellites and horseshoe orbits.

Orbital mechanics is a weird subject. If you have a single object—say, a planet—orbiting another single object—a star—then things are relatively simple. The orbit might be a circle or more elliptical (elongated) or a variety of other mathematical shapes. The time taken to orbit the star once is called the planet’s orbital period, and it tends to stay pretty much constant. (For a circular orbit, the speed of the planet stays constant. But if the orbit is an ellipse, the planet speeds up a bit when it’s closer to the star and slows down when it’s farther out.)

Now, let’s say there’s a second object, such as an asteroid, in orbit around the star. It, too, may travel along a circular path or a more elliptical one. And from the high and mighty view of someone looking at the system from the outside, both objects follow their paths at different speeds and with different periods.

Here’s where the weirdness pops up. Let’s say that the asteroid has an orbit that’s very similar in size to the planet’s but slightly more elliptical. Also, this object is at just the right distance from the star such that its period is almost exactly the same as the planet’s. Not only that, it also happens to be near the planet in space, too, as they orbit the sun. From our outside point of view, we see them both going around the star, each completing one orbit after the same amount of time. Sometimes the asteroid moves a little faster than the planet, however, and sometimes it does so slower, even though, on average, its orbital speed is roughly the same as the planet’s.

In a little more detail, when the asteroid is farther from the star, outside the planet’s orbit, it slows and lags behind. It then drops down closer to the star, speeds up and moves ahead of the planet. Then it falls back outward and slows, and the pattern repeats.

That’s not too strange, but if you’re looking at the asteroid from the planet’s point of view, it seems very different. From that vantage, the asteroid appears to always stick near the planet, sometimes closer to the sun and traveling ahead and sometimes farther out and moving in the reverse direction. In other words, it looks like the asteroid is going around the planet!

That’s a lot like a moon’s motion. It’s an illusion, however, because the asteroid is not really orbiting the planet. Instead it’s moving around the sun. The asteroid’s motion is aligned with the planet’s such that the space rock appears to circle the world.

An analogy to this motion is a scenario in which you are driving down the center lane of a three-lane road. Imagine a car moves ahead of you on the left, passes you, then gets all the way over into the right lane. It then slows, drops behind you, speeds up and passes you again on the left. It appears like the car is circling around you. Someone looking from the side of the road, however, will see it simply moving left and right, faster and slower.

Objects with orbits like that are known as quasi-satellites, or quasi-moons. They aren’t really moons because they actually orbit the star and not the planet—they also tend to be too far from the planet to be gravitationally bound to it.

Here’s where the trick question we started with gets really tricky: Earth has several quasi-moons that act in just this manner.

For example, 469219 Kamoʻoalewa is an asteroid about 50 meters wide in an orbit with a period of 1.002 Earth years—just around 17 hours longer than Earth’s period! Its orbit is mildly elliptical, taking it about 15 million kilometers farther from and closer to the sun than that of Earth. The asteroid’s orbit is also tipped a smidgen, by about eight degrees, with respect to Earth’s orbit. From our terrestrial point of view, Kamoʻoalewa moves as if it orbits us, just like the “circling” car described above.

There are several other objects like Kamoʻoalewa, each with its own variation on this general behavior. For example, if an asteroid is far enough ahead of Earth in its orbit, it won’t fall behind our planet despite its slowdowns and speedups. (This is a little like a car well ahead of you on the road that you never catch up to, even if its speed goes up and down a bit over time.) From our point of view, the asteroid will appear to stay in one area of the sky instead of circling around Earth like the real moon does. The asteroid 2020 PP1 is an example of this kind of quasi-moon .

Another odd example is 3753 Cruithne . This asteroid takes 364 days to travel around the sun, which means it has a somewhat shorter period than Earth does. Cruithne’s solar orbit is quite elliptical, taking it nearly 75 million km closer to and farther out from the sun. Earth’s average orbital distance from the sun is about 150 million km, so this is quite an excursion. Cruithne’s orbit is tilted quite a bit, too, by nearly 20 degrees. Unlike those other rocks, it can actually be on the opposite side of the sun as seen from Earth, yet it also occasionally approaches to within roughly 11 million km of us.

Cruithne doesn’t seem to orbit us as seen from Earth, so it’s not quite a quasi-satellite, but it gets weirder: from the vantage of our planet, the object appears to move over a wide bean-shaped path that changes position relative to Earth and the sun over time, tracing a smeared horseshoe shape every 770 years or so . While seven “true” quasi-moons of Earth are known, many more asteroids have horseshoe orbits near us .

These orbits tend not to be stable over time; gravitational tugs from the planets can alter them. Sometimes horseshoe orbits can morph into quasi-moon orbits, and vice versa.

Only a handful of such asteroids are known to currently “orbit” our planet. If an object’s orbit changes shape over time, however, it can move into a quasi-satellite or horseshoe orbit, temporarily making that object a terrestrial companion.

Quasi-satellites aren’t restricted to just Earth: Venus has the asteroid 2002 VE68, which orbits the sun with almost exactly the same period as the planet. Nicknamed Zoozve (delightfully because of a misreading used in a label on a poster of the solar system ), this asteroid has been a Cytherean quasi-moon for many millennia, but its orbit is changing and will soon move away from Venus.

Although it’s likely that other planets have quasi-moons as well, from our vantage on Earth, they’re too far away to be spotted easily. Perhaps as bigger telescopes come online, we’ll find even more of these weird kinda sorta pseudo moons.

But this situation shows once again that the firm ideas we have about things—what’s a planet, what’s a moon—are a lot more malleable than you might think. In science, it’s always best to avoid hard-and-fast definitions and allow yourself to be flexible in your thinking. Like quasi-satellites, it’s possible, over time, to change your path through life.

Space photo of the week: The moon begins its big eclipse orbit in stunning ISS photo

International Space Station astronauts orbiting 270 miles above Earth have photographed the moon on the cusp of 2024's first "eclipse season."

What it is: The moon reaching its first-quarter phase, as seen from the International Space Station (ISS)

When it was published: March 19, 2024

Where it is: 270 miles (435 kilometers) above the South Atlantic Ocean 

Why it's so special: The moon will be eclipsed by Earth in the early hours of March 25. Then, it will totally eclipse the sun on April 8 . 

This photo of the moon was taken as our satellite reached its first-quarter phase, which occurs about a week after a new moon and a week before a full moon. It was taken from the ISS as it soared nearly 270 miles (435 kilometers) above the South Atlantic Ocean during a very special orbit of the moon.

Monday (March 25) starts 2024's first "eclipse season," the name for one of the two 35-day periods each year when lunar and solar eclipses can occur.

Related: 7 safe ways to view the partial phases of the total solar eclipse on April 8

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In the early hours of March 25, the moon will turn full and be eclipsed by Earth. It won't be a perfect alignment, though. If it were, it would be a total lunar eclipse , also known as a Blood Moon. Instead, it will be a penumbral lunar eclipse, during which the moon will move only through Earth's outer shadow, its penumbra.

During the event — which will take place between 12:53 and 5:32 a.m. EDT, peaking at 3:12 a.m. EDT, according to Time and Date — the edge of Earth's shadow will be seen moving across the lunar surface.

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If that's a near-miss eclipse, the one that comes at the end of the moon's current orbit will be anything but. On Monday, April 8, the new moon — known as the New Pink Moon this month — will perfectly align with the sun and Earth, totally eclipsing our star. The moment, called syzygy , will cause a central solar eclipse .

All of North America will experience at least a partial solar eclipse, while those within a 115-mile-wide (185 kilometers) path of totality — a projection of the moon's shadow — will experience a total solar eclipse on April 8. Total solar eclipses occur in the same place twice every 366 years , on average, according to new research by NASA .

Jamie Carter is a freelance journalist and regular Live Science contributor based in Cardiff, U.K. He is the author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners and lectures on astronomy and the natural world. Jamie regularly writes for Space.com, TechRadar.com, Forbes Science, BBC Wildlife magazine and Scientific American, and many others. He edits WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com .

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Bases, experiments, mining: the race to protect the surface of the moon

Researchers say ‘global consensus’ is needed within the next few years to protect scientifically important sites

Calls for protection of moon sites that could advance astronomy

B uzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, described the landscape he stepped on to as “magnificent desolation”. The Apollo landing sites were particularly bland, which was, of course, Nasa’s intention. The spots were selected, in part, for the smoothness of the surface and the lack of troublesome hills, cliffs and craters.

But in the past two decades, lunar research has revealed a richer picture of our natural satellite. Lunar pits that serve as skylights lead down to lava tubes big enough to house moon bases that would be naturally shielded from space radiation by overhanging rock. Deep craters at the lunar poles harbour ice deposits, a source of precious water, oxygen and hydrogen. Some are bordered by high ridges that catch the sun – crucial for solar power – all year round. Mixed into all that soil and rock is all manner of other valuable resources: titanium, aluminium, helium-3, precious metals and rare earth elements.

No wonder, then, that space agencies and private companies are planning bases, scientific experiments and mining operations on the moon. Given its size – the lunar surface is nearly three times larger than Antarctica – overcrowding might seem a distant concern. But there are few prime spots on the moon, and land that is perfect for scientific experiments is expected to draw the lion’s share of missions with other activities in mind.

For researchers who want to safeguard sites of extraordinary scientific importance, or SESIs, the immediate task is to agree which spots need what kind of protection. “It’s imperative that scientists take stock of the fact that these would-be scientific assets are under threat and that they need to proactively identify them as deserving of protection,” said Dr Alanna Krolikowski, a political scientist at Missouri University of Science and Technology, and co-author on a study about the risks to SESIs published on Monday by the Royal Society .

The report calls for a multi-pronged approach to safeguard SESIs. At the national level, it says protection must be written into space policies drawn up by governments, which can authorise and regulate activities and enforce best practice. This is most pressing for countries that have missions bound for the moon imminently.

There are two major international efforts under way to establish rules for lunar activities, but so far neither stresses protection of SESIs, the report adds. The Artemis Accords , an agreement between the US and countries that are partners in the US Artemis moon exploration programme, specifies “safety zones” around installed equipment, but says nothing about protecting sites beyond those of historical interest. The accords do, however, allow private companies to extract materials for profit. Whatever the Artemis Accords decide, Russia and China, who are collaborating on a lunar research station, are not about to sign up.

A second effort at lunar governance is emerging at the United Nations committee on the peaceful uses of outer space, or Copuos. Its new working group is mulling rules on the extraction of natural resources from celestial bodies, and there are hopes the group will expand its remit to cover SESIs.

Whether that happens, and happens soon enough for astronomers, is another matter. “We need SESI protections in a timeframe of half a decade or so to prevent important forms of irreversible damage,” said Krolikowski. “It’s really important to reach beyond the usual suspects in the established spacefaring states and build a genuinely global consensus.”

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Robbins to regents: UArizona Health Sciences 'will advance the frontiers of health and wellness in Arizona and beyond'

Banner – University Medical Center Tucson is the University of Arizona's teaching hospital, and a national recognized health care facility.

Noelle Haro-Gomez and Kyle Mittan, University of Arizona

Improving the health and wellness of all Arizonans begins with groundbreaking research and treatment taking place every day at University of Arizona Health Sciences , university President Robert C. Robbins told the Arizona Board of Regents Thursday.

During ABOR's meeting on the UArizona campus, Robbins discussed the state's long-term health care and biosciences needs, and how to best leverage and optimize the university's health sciences assets to address those needs.

"We have a world-class research university that, over the last 60 years that health sciences have been in Tucson, has grown to make collaborations across colleges – and I think we're uniquely positioned as well," Robbins said. "We're the only Association of American Universities, land-grant, Hispanic-Serving Institution with more than 20,000 students; two medical schools; colleges of nursing, public health and pharmacy; and a veterinary school. The presence of those assets is truly unique and is a model for delivering an innovative care system throughout the state of Arizona."

Dr. Merlin K. "Monte" DuVal, founding dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, stands in front of the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center.

University of Arizona

The university admitted its first College of Medicine class in fall 1967 under the visionary leadership of founding college dean Merlin K. DuVal. Four years later, the university opened its teaching hospital, now known as Banner – University Medical Center Tucson .

Today, the College of Medicine – Tucson is one of several colleges, research centers and institutes under the umbrella of University of Arizona Health Sciences, considered a statewide leader in biomedical research and training for health care professions. UArizona Health Sciences also includes the College of Medicine – Phoenix , College of Nursing , Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health , R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy and more than a dozen research centers and programs focused on cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, pain and addiction, respiratory diseases, biomedical informatics, health technology innovation, health disparities, precision health care and pandemic preparedness.

While the university has seen great success in the development of its health sciences programs, the state of Arizona is facing a growing health care crisis, Robbins said.

Last fall, the Board of Regents investigated the long-term health workforce needs in Arizona. The board found that not only is the state's worker-to-population ratio below the national average for almost all heath care-related professions, but Arizona also has fewer hospital beds per population than national averages. Arizona needs thousands of additional nurses, doctors and other health professionals to close existing gaps, and the state's rural communities are experiencing even greater hardships, the investigation found.

To help combat the health care crisis, Robbins said the university relies on teaching, discovery and care to create a strong foundation of treatment for today's patients and to train the next generation of professionals with an interdisciplinary approach.

Robbins also mentioned exciting new developments for the university, including the under-construction Pima Joint Technical Education District's new Mel & Enid Zuckerman Center for Health and Medical Careers at the UArizona Tech Park at The Bridges . The innovative high school, developed in collaboration with the University of Arizona, will train and encourage local students to pursue careers in health sciences.

Robbins added that translating discovery to treatment and training the next generation of health care professionals help fulfill the vision DuVal set forth when he founded the college of medicine: to create a healthier Arizona for all its residents.

University of Arizona Health Sciences now includes several colleges and more than a dozen research centers and programs.

The benefit of the work being done at UArizona Health Sciences may not be limited to Earth, however. Robbins said the university is also uniquely positioned to leverage its wealth of astronomy expertise, alongside its health care expertise, to improve health and wellness outcomes for those involved in NASA missions.

"We will improve the health and wellness of humanity one patient, one community, one county at a time," he said. "We will create a beacon for health, healing and science. We will convert cancer to a chronic, manageable disease, and we will serve as pioneers for space health. Our overarching vision over the next 40 years, as I see it, is to advance the frontiers of health and wellness in Arizona and beyond, and to be a model for other states and counties for how you can use an academic medical center for fundamental discovery and translate those discoveries into treatments to improve the health of individuals and the community."

President Robbins Presentation to ABOR April 20, 2023

During the Arizona Board of Regents' meeting on the UArizona campus April 20, President Robert C. Robbins discussed the state's long-term health care and biosciences needs, and how to best leverage and optimize the university's health sciences assets to address those needs.

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Logan Burtch-Buus News Writer [email protected]

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