Moon: the Earth's Satellite

The word ‘Satellite’ means companion. The moon was the only known satellite in the Solar System until 1610. Today, there are 163 known satellites in the Solar System. The satellites move around a planet from West to East. They do not have own light, but reflect the light of the Sun. They have no atmosphere and water.

Moon: the Earth’s Satellite

The moon is located at a distance of 8, 84,401 km from the earth (Figure 2.7). The moon revolves around the earth. The moon takes 27 days and 7 hours and 43 minutes for both its rotation and revolution around the earth.

Hence, the observers on the earth could see only one side of the moon.

The moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system. The moon was likely to be formed after a Mars-sized body collided with Earth. There are many craters, high and steep mountains of different sizes which cast shadows on the Moon’s surface. The light which is reflected by the Moon will reach the Earth in just one and a quarter seconds.

Apollo 11 was the first manned mission to land on the Moon sent  by  NASA.  Two American Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin set foot on the moon’s surface on the waterless Sea of Tranquility on 20th July, 1969. They stayed there for 21 hours 38 minutes and 21 seconds on the moon. Michael Collins piloted Apollo 11.

Since the moon is smaller than the earth, it has 1/6 of the gravitational pull of the earth. So, man weighs 6 times less on the moon than the earth.