write about the characteristics of the moon under the following heading
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Answers
Moon is Earth's largest natural satellite, and we usually see it in the night sky. Some other planets also have moons or natural satellites.
Moon
Moon symbol
Moon merged small.jpg
The Moon as seen from Earth. This is a nearly full moon
Designations
Alternative names
Luna
Adjectives
lunar, selenic
Orbital characteristics
Perigee
363,104 km (0.002 4 AU)
Apogee
405,696 km (0.002 7 AU)
Semi-major axis
384,399 km (0.002 57 AU[1])
Eccentricity
0.054 9[1]
Orbital period
27.321 582 d (27 d 7 h 43.1 min[1])
Synodic period
29.530 589 d (29 d 12 h 44 min 2.9 s)
Average orbital speed
1.022 km/s
Inclination
5.145° to the ecliptic[1]
(between 18.29° and 28.58° to Earth's equator)
Longitude of ascending node
regressing by one revolution in 18.6 years
Argument of perigee
progressing by one revolution in 8.85 years
Satellite of
Earth
Physical characteristics
Mean radius
1,737.10 km (0.273 Earths)[1][2]
Flattening
0.001 25
Circumference
10,921 km (equatorial)
Surface area
3.793 × 107 km² (0.074 Earths)
Volume
2.195 8 × 1010 km³ (0.020 Earths)
Mass
7.347 7 × 1022 kg (0.012 3 Earths[1])
Mean density
3,346.4 kg/m³[1]
Surface gravity
1.622 m/s² (0.165 4 g)
Escape velocity
2.38 km/s
Sidereal rotation period
27.321 582 d (synchronous)
Equatorial rotation velocity
4.627 m/s
Axial tilt
1.542 4° (to ecliptic)
6.687° (to orbit plane)
Albedo
0.12
Surface temp. min mean max
equator 100 K 220 K
85°N[3] 70 K 130 K 230 K
Apparent magnitude
−2.5 to −12.9[4]
−12.74 (mean full moon)[2]
Angular diameter
29.3 to 34.1 arcminutes[2][5]
Surface pressure
2.25 × 10-12 torr [6]
Our moon is about a quarter the size of the Earth. Because it is far away it looks small, about half a degree wide. The gravity on the moon is one-sixth of the Earth's gravity.[8] It means that something will be one-sixth as heavy on the Moon than on Earth. The Moon is a rocky and dusty place. The Moon moves slowly away from the earth at a rate of 3.8 cm per year, due to the effect of tidal dissipation
Explanation:
Orbital characteristics
Epoch J2000
Perigee
362600 km
(356400–370400 km)
Apogee
405400 km
(404000–406700 km)
Semi-major axis
384399 km (0.00257 AU)[1]
Eccentricity
0.0549[1]
Orbital period
27.321661 d
(27 d 7 h 43 min 11.5 s[1])
Synodic period
29.530589 d
(29 d 12 h 44 min 2.9 s)
Average orbital speed
1.022 km/s
Inclination
5.145° to the ecliptic[2][a]
Longitude of ascending node
Regressing by one revolution in 18.61 years
Argument of perigee
Progressing by one
revolution in 8.85 years
Satellite of
Earth[b][3]
Physical characteristics
Mean radius
1737.4 km
(0.2727 of Earth's)[1][4][5]
Equatorial radius
1738.1 km
(0.2725 of Earth's)[4]
Polar radius
1736.0 km
(0.2731 of Earth's)[4]
Flattening
0.0012[4]
Circumference
10921 km (equatorial)
Surface area
3.793×107 km2
(0.074 of Earth's)
Volume
2.1958×1010 km3
(0.020 of Earth's)[4]
Mass
7.342×1022 kg
(0.012300 of Earth's)[1][4][6]
Mean density
3.344 g/cm3[1][4]
0.606 × Earth
Surface gravity
1.62 m/s2 (0.1654 g)[4]
Moment of inertia factor
0.3929±0.0009[7]
Escape velocity
2.38 km/s
Sidereal rotation period
27.321661 d (synchronous)
Equatorial rotation velocity
4.627 m/s
Axial tilt
1.5424° to ecliptic
6.687° to orbit plane[2]
24° to Earth's equator [8]
North pole right ascension
17h 47m 26s
266.86°[9]
North pole declination
65.64°[9]
Albedo
0.136[10]
Surface temp. min mean max
Equator 100 K 220 K 390 K
85°N 150 K 230 K[11]
Apparent magnitude
−2.5 to −12.9[c]
−12.74 (mean full moon)[4]
Angular diameter
29.3 to 34.1 arcminutes[4][d]