The Indian Space Research Organizations (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 mission has set a lasting global record by successfully landing on the southern pole of the Moon. This achievement has also elevated India to become the fourth country to reach the Moon.
Chandrayaan-3 primary goal was to conduct further research on the Moon and share new discoveries with the public. The Moon, Earth’s only natural satellite remains shrouded in mystery with various aspects that scientists continue to explore.
Here are 10 fascinating facts about the Moon:
1: Not Perfectly Round: Contrary to the full moon’s circular appearance in the night sky, the Moon is not perfectly round. It has an oblate spheroid shape, causing it to appear slightly flattened at the poles and elongated at the equator. Its center of mass is about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) closer to Earth’s surface than its geometric center.
2: Far Side of the Moon: Despite the Moon being visible throughout its phases, only about 59% of its surface is visible from Earth. The remaining 41% of the Moon’s surface remains hidden from our view. If you were to stand on the far side of the Moon facing Earth, you wouldn’t see the Earth at all.
3: Connection to Blue Moons: The term “Blue Moon” is connected to lunar-related volcanic explosions. After the eruption of the Indonesian volcano Krakatoa in 1883, fine particles in the atmosphere led to blue-tinted moons. The term “Blue Moon” subsequently emerged as a way to describe rare events. The same eruption led to a Moon with a bluish hue, giving rise to the term “Blue Moon.”
4: Moon’s Volcanic Explosions: There was a time when the United States seriously considered using nuclear weapons on the Moon. The classified project, named “A Study of Lunar Research Flights,” aimed to gather information on Soviet space capabilities by providing them with information about American military power.
5: Deep Craters on the Moon: The Moon doesn’t have an atmosphere like Earth, so the impacts from asteroids and other objects have left deep craters. The “Impact Crater” named Tycho was created about 4 billion years ago due to collisions with celestial bodies in space.
6: Slowing Down Earth’s Rotation: The Moon’s gravitational pull causes ocean tides on Earth. In return, the tides’ frictional drag causes the Earth’s rotation to slow down over time. As a result, Earth’s rotation is slowing by about 1.5 milliseconds per century.
7: Moon’s Brightness: The Moon shines about 14 times brighter than a full moon on Earth. To achieve an equivalent amount of light from the Sun, you would need around 3,98,110 full moons. During a lunar eclipse, when Earth’s shadow covers the Moon, the temperature on the Moon’s surface drops significantly. This phenomenon is called “Perigee.”
8: Leonardo da Vinci’s Observation: The great scientist Leonardo da Vinci had observed that sometimes only half of the Moon is visible. This phenomenon is known as the “Gibbous Phase” or the “Waxing Crescent Phase.” During such times, the Moon’s visibility depends on weather conditions.
9: Naming of Craters: The International Astronomical Union is responsible for naming not only the Moon’s craters but also other astronomical features. Lunar craters, formed from impacts, are named after famous scientists, artists, and explorers. Features on the Moon’s surface were named by combining the names of prominent scientists, artists, and explorers.
10: Mysterious Southern Pole: The southern pole of the Moon, where India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission landed, remains shrouded in mystery. This region is characterized by deep craters and towering peaks, with parts of it in perpetual darkness for billions of years.
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