Astronomy - Chapter 1 - Earth, Moon and Sun - MOON

A mind map of all the topics in Chapter 1 - The Moon in the Astronomy coursework for GCSE. Have fun revising!

Hope this makes it better and eaiser! =]

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  • Created by: Georgina
  • Created on: 08-04-13 16:29
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  • Astronomy - Chapter 1 - Earth, Moon and Sun - MOON
    • Moon's Principle Features
      • Mare = SEA
        • Mare Imbrium = SEA OF SHOWERS
        • Mare Serenitiatis= SEA OF SERENITY
        • Mare Tranquillitatis = SEA OF TRANQUILITY
        • Mare Crisium = SEA OF CRISES
        • Mare Fedcunditatis = SEA OF FERTILITY
        • Mare Nubium  = SEA OF CLOUDS
        • MARE humorum  = SEA OF HUMOURS
      • Oceanus = OCEAN
        • Oceanus Procellarum  = OCEAN OF STORMS
      • Crater = CRATER
        • Crater Kepler
        • Crater Tycho
        • Crater Copernicus
      • APENNINE MOUNTAINS
    • General Facts
      • Moon's diameter = 3,500 km
      • Approximate distance from Earth = 380,000 km
      • Moon's rotational period and orbital period are both the same = 27.3 days
      • The effect is a bigger object is that the gravitational pull is greater
      • The Moon has a low gravitational pull and therefore has a low escape veloctity
        • Earth has a bigger gravitational pull and therefore has a higher escape velocity meaning that Earth can 'hold onto' the atmosphere and the Moon can't
        • Low velocity means that things can leave the surface a lot more easier
    • Far side of the Moon
      • The Moon rotates on it's axis this is called SYNCHRONOUS ROTATION
        • so for one orbit of the Earth the Moon spins once
        • So we only see one side of the face
      • The Moon is in a CAPTURED ORBIT around the Earth
      • Why is the Far Side different
        • There is very little Mare/Sea
        • Most of it is heavily cratered highland regions
        • There is a deep crater called TISOLKOVVSKY
        • There are much lighter regions than the Near side
    • Giant Impact Theory
      • 4.5 billion years ago a asteroid the size of Mars hit Earth with loads of speed and hit at an oblique angle
        • The asteroid was given the name Theia
      • When the collision happened the debris coming off the asteroid was scattered into space
      • This material would have stayed close to Earth due to the gravitational pull of the Earth
      • The debris from the impact gradually stuck together to form the Moon
      • Why it was accepted
        • Lack of water and other volatile compounds found in the lunar rocks
          • This gives the idea that there was so much energy that it vaporised  the (unknown) water
        • Discovery of KREEP-rich rocks - found in the  Ocean of Storms and Sea of Showers
        • The abundance of the isotopes of oxygen in the moon rocks - identical to the ones on Earth
    • Moon's surface
      • Meteoroids or other objects that are flying up to 70,000 km per hour hit the moon they create CRATERS
      • There were large sizes of rocks flying at high speeds and had left huge impact 'marks' on the surface. These where called Mares/Seas
      • The Mountains on the Moon were formed by volcanic activity
        • The mountains are much older than the Seas
      • Rilles are grooves cut into the surface. There are different types of Rilles
        • Straight Rilles are when the ground between 2 fault lines drops away
        • Sinous Rilles are formed from collapsed lava tubes
      • Wrinkle Ridges are found on the surface of a Mare. They are seen as snaking across the surface
        • They are formed when basalt lava cools and the ground contracts
        • The name Dorsa is given to them
    • ALSEPs
      • ALSEPs = Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package
      • It was made to monitor the structure of the Moons interior
      • the composition and pressure of the lunar atmosphere
      • Intensity and direction of the solar wind
      • Thermal and electrical properties of the lunar sub-surface
  • Far side of the Moon
    • The Moon rotates on it's axis this is called SYNCHRONOUS ROTATION
      • so for one orbit of the Earth the Moon spins once
      • So we only see one side of the face
    • The Moon is in a CAPTURED ORBIT around the Earth
    • Why is the Far Side different
      • There is very little Mare/Sea
      • Most of it is heavily cratered highland regions
      • There is a deep crater called TISOLKOVVSKY
      • There are much lighter regions than the Near side
  • Why it was accepted
    • Lack of water and other volatile compounds found in the lunar rocks
      • This gives the idea that there was so much energy that it vaporised  the (unknown) water
    • Discovery of KREEP-rich rocks - found in the  Ocean of Storms and Sea of Showers
    • The abundance of the isotopes of oxygen in the moon rocks - identical to the ones on Earth

Comments

Yo

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Brilliant Resource :)

Yo

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Do You Have Any Mindmaps For Chapter 3 Stars? :)

Samantha Sonuga

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Looks good, however I'm sure the only exam board that does astronomy is Edexcel. Do correct me if I'm wrong :)

Ethan Sawyer

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Awesome

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