The Moon - Concepts - Chapter 1 Class 6 Geography - The Earth and the Solar System - Geography

• The Earth has only one natural satellite - the moon . 
• The moon’s diameter is one-quarter of the Earth’s, but it appears big because it is nearer to us. 
• The moon is about 3,84,400 km away from the Earth, much less than the distance from the sun. 
• The moon takes 27 days to move around the earth and to spin on its axis, so we see only one side of it. 
• The moon has no life , no atmosphere , no moisture, and no sound . It has mountains , plains, and depressions that cast shadows. 
• The moon has extreme temperatures , very hot in the day ( 120°C ) and very cold in the night ( -120°C ). 
• The first humans to land on the moon were Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin in 1969 . They explored and photographed the moon. 

Phases of the Moon

• The moon reflects the sun’s light and changes its shape from night to night
• The phases of the Moon refer to the different shapes of the Moon as seen from Earth during its orbit around the Earth.
• The eight phases of the Moon are New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Third Quarter, and Waning Crescent.
• During the New Moon phase, the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, and the side of the Moon facing the Earth is not illuminated by the Sun, making it invisible from Earth.
• During the Full Moon phase, the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun, and the entire side of the Moon facing the Earth is illuminated by the Sun, making it appear as a complete circle.
• The Waxing phases of the Moon refer to the period when the visible portion of the Moon is increasing, while the Waning phases refer to the period when the visible portion of the Moon is decreasing.
• The phases of the Moon have been observed and studied for thousands of years and have played a significant role in many cultures and religions.