Satellites
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.
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.
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