Learn About Earth's Nearest Neighbor - The Moon
It’s important to note that the term “Black Moon” is not an official astronomical term, according to the Weather Network’s Scott Sutherland.
It can refer to two different, but related, events: either the third of four new moons within the same astronomical season or the second of two new moons within the same calendar month.
The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, also known as Juice, is set to make a pit stop back on Earth on August 19-20.
The flight controllers have an exciting plan: they’ll navigate Juice past the Moon and then swing it around Earth.
This clever “braking” maneuver is like taking a shortcut, setting Juice on its way … Read the rest of this article
This video shows the prevailing theory for the Moon’s formation.
There have been other theories along the way, a couple of which are examined in the video.… Read the rest of this article
So, get this: scientists have been keeping an eye on the Moon, and guess what? It’s actually getting smaller!
Yeah, you heard that right.
According to data collected by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaisance Orbiter, our trusty old satellite is shrinking.
And you know what’s causing this lunar shrinkage? It’s the Moon’s core cooling down, believe it or not.
Now, here’s … Read the rest of this article
August is one of those rare months when there is a Blue Moon.
The common understanding of a “Blue Moon” is that is is the second Full Moon in the same calendar month.
And in August (2023), there are Full Moons on August 1st and August 30th/31st (depending on where you live).
In the USA, the Blue Moon is … Read the rest of this article
A new supercomputer simulation shows that our Moon could have formed within hours of a collision between a proto-Earth and a Mars-sized planet early in the solar system’s history.
The subject of where the Moon came from is something scientists have wrestled with for decades.
Originally it was thought that the Earth and Moon had formed as a double-planet or … Read the rest of this article
Moon enthusiasts of all ages are being challenged to help identify features on the Moon that might pose a hazard to astronauts or lunar rovers that will be exploring the surface.
The 2022 EXPLORE Lunar Data Challenge uses machine learning techniques to identify geologic features of interest on the Moon.
Through the Data Challenges, the EXPLORE project aims to … Read the rest of this article
International Observe the Moon Night is a worldwide celebration of lunar science and exploration, celestial observation, and our cultural and personal connections to the Moon.
One day each year, everyone on Earth is invited to observe, learn about, and celebrate the Moon together.
This year the event occurs in October when the Moon is just before the first quarter – … Read the rest of this article
The Moon’s craters preserve billions of years of history.
Scientists have learned about the conditions of our early solar system by studying the composition, size, and distribution of these holes in the Moon’s surface, created long ago by collisions with asteroids.
But instead of directly studying the characteristics of these holes, a team based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center … Read the rest of this article
It seems that the way the Moon moves in its orbit affects mangrove tree cover across Australia and new research suggests the it likely contributed to mass tree deaths in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
A study published in the journal Science Advances has found that an 18.61-year cycle known as the lunar nodal cycle shapes the condition of tidal wetlands.… Read the rest of this article