The Moon 2 : Explore some fascinating details about The Moon Features

Let’s explore some fascinating details about the Moon’s features, including its 'far side', unique geology, and exploration history:  

Features of the Moon  

1. The Near Side  

- The side we see from Earth has large dark areas called 'maria' (Latin for "seas").  

  - These are basaltic plains formed by ancient volcanic activity.  

  - Notable maria: 'Mare Tranquillitatis' (Sea of Tranquility, where Apollo 11 landed).  

- The lighter areas are called 'highlands', which are older and heavily cratered.  

2. The Far Side  

- Unlike the near side, the far side has almost no maria.  

  - This is due to the Moon's crust being thicker on the far side, making it harder for magma to reach the surface.  

- It is dominated by craters, such as 'Tsiolkovskiy Crater' and 'Mare Moscoviense', one of the few maria on the far side.  

3. South Pole–Aitken Basin  

- A massive impact crater on the far side, spanning about 2,500 km in diameter and 8 km deep.  

- Scientists study it for clues about the Moon’s interior and early solar system history.  

4. Polar Regions  

- The Moon’s poles are particularly intriguing because they contain 'permanently shadowed craters'.  

  - These craters are thought to harbor 'water ice', which could be crucial for future lunar exploration.  

Exploration of the Moon  

Early Missions  

- The Soviet Union’s 'Luna 3' (1959) was the first spacecraft to photograph the far side.  

- The United States’ Apollo program achieved the first human landings, with 'Apollo 11' in 1969 being the most iconic.  

Recent Missions  

- 'China’s Chang’e 4' : In 2019, it became the first mission to land on the far side, in the 'Von Kármán Crater'.  

- NASA’s 'Artemis Program' aims to return humans to the Moon, focusing on the South Pole region.  

Scientific Discoveries  

- Studies of Moon rocks brought back by Apollo missions revealed its origin story.  

  - The Moon likely formed from debris after a Mars-sized object collided with Earth about 4.5 billion years ago ('Giant Impact Hypothesis').  

Fun Moon Facts  

1. 'No Atmosphere': 

The Moon lacks a significant atmosphere, so its surface temperatures range from -173°C at night to 127°C during the day.  

2. 'Gravity': 

The Moon's gravity is about '1/6th that of Earth', making it possible for astronauts to "bounce" around.  

3. 'Eclipses': 

Solar eclipses occur when the Moon blocks the Sun’s light, and lunar eclipses happen when Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon.  

Continue to final episode :

The Moon 3 : Exciting Development About Upcoming Moon Mission, Lunar Colonization and Intriguing moon features