- Published: November 17, 2021
- Updated: November 17, 2021
- University / College: Harvard University
- Level: Undergraduate
- Language: English
- Downloads: 46
Moon Journal I collected data for a whole week, observing the position and phase of the moon each day, and analysed the data and made the conclusions below from the data and my own research:
The moon moves in a circular orbit around the earth. It revolves around the earth in a westward direction across the sky. The moon’s initial direction is eastward, but the earth also rotates eastward and at a much higher speed. Therefore, when the moon is observed, it appears to revolve in a westerly direction each day.
From research, I found out that the moon takes approximately 27. 3 days to rotate the earth. That means that every day it moves about 13. 2° each day eastwards relative to the position of the stars. The stars move across the sky in approximately 23 hours and 56 minutes. The moon takes about 24 hours and 49 minutes to cross the sky. Because of this, the moon rises and sets later than the previous day and it does this for around 27 days when it has finished one revolution, and it goes back to rising sun setting at the initial times.
The moon does not give off its own light; but instead reflects suns light. The phases of the moon are as a result of the different parts of the moon that reflect the sun’s light as it revolves the earth. The shape changes from a new moon to a full moon. The order is as follows: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent then new moon.
The moon seems larger than the stars and even the sun, but this is due to the fact that the moon is our closest neighbour in space. In fact, the sun is 400 times bigger than the moon. The moon does not have any life form and has extreme temperatures compared to the earth (Chancer and Zodron 12-35).
Work cited
Chancer J and Zodron G. Moon journals : writing, art, and inquiry through focused nature study. Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann. 1997., 12-35
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