Since time immemorial, the moon has been of enormous importance to mankind. In ancient times it was thought to be a giant in the sky. However, now that we know that it is the only natural satellite on planet Earth, its charm and mystery continue to amaze us. For this reason, this time we share 20 curious facts about the moon that will surprise you. Keep reading!
Do you think you know all these curious facts about the moon?
1. It does not have its own light
Perhaps this is one of the most well-known curiosities of the moon. Although it may seem to us that the moon shines at night, the reality is that it does not have its own light. Actually, the light it radiates is the reflection of another light, that of the sun. That is why from our planet it is illuminated.
2. She is the daughter of a great impact
It is thought that its origin was due to the impact between a planet and a disk during the time of the formation of the planets. For this reason, the moon has a composition so similar to that of the Earth. Satellites that have this hybrid conformation are called synestia .
3. It wasn’t the man, a dog got there first
It is always discussed which country landed on the moon first: if it was the United States or Russia. The name of the American, Neil Armstrong, is popularly recognized as the first man to reach this destination. But, in reality, the first to arrive was the dog Laika , sent on the Russian satellite Sputnik 2 on November 3, 1957.
4. What beliefs exist about the moon?
Since ancient times, the moon has carried a strong symbolism. Its main symbols are fertility and everything related to the feminine, for example, to the Mother Goddess. It is also associated with fantasy, due to its nocturnal presence and mystery, and with cyclical time, due to its cycle with the lunar phases.
5. There is a multiverse of the moon
As you can imagine, due to the importance it has had for all humanity, this star received different names in many of the ancient cultures . Some of those names are: Tecuciztécatl , god of the moon in the Mexica culture; Without, in the Mesopotamian culture; and Selene , who in Greek mythology was the daughter of the Titans Hyperion and Gaia.
6. The moon has a relationship with the sea
A natural phenomenon that could be alien to the moon, but is not, are the tides. That’s right, this satellite is the cause of the periodic advance and retreat of the sea level. This is due to its gravity and how it influences our planet. It even happens that when the moon and sun line up. And tides up to 140% larger than average can be produced. These are called “ spring tides ”.
7. Each phase has its own lunar rituals
There are different rituals depending on the lunar phase in which it is. The best known are made during the full moon, the most powerful stage. Popular belief says that the great luminosity that it reflects during these days will come in handy, especially if you take a bath under its light to recharge your energies. This ritual is also usually accompanied by the quartz or amulets that you want to ‘recharge’.
8. Trips to the moon are a bit complicated
It is impossible to go to the moon without a spacesuit, since it has no atmosphere. therefore it is easy to succumb to lack of oxygen. Also, without it, the blood boils instantly. On top of that, traveling to this location is not something that is done very often either, the last time a person stepped on it was in 1972 . Do you think we will visit her soon?
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Quick Facts:
- The distance from the Earth to Moon is around 384,400 kilometers.
- For the sake of gravity, people and things weigh differently than on Earth. A person who on our planet weighs 45 kilos on the moon would weigh 8.05 kilos.
- It takes 27 days, 7 hours and 43 minutes to go around the earth and it is the same time it takes to go around the earth, so it always shows us the same face.
- It is the 5th biggest satellite in our solar system.
- Although it looks very bright due to the effect that the sun has on it, its surface is actually very dark with a reflection very similar to that of carbon.
- The last time a human stepped on the moon was in 1972, so it was only visited by unmanned space probes.
- If it’s so small, why does it look so big? Because although its size is 400 times smaller than the sun, it is 400 times closer to Earth.
Have you seen the red moon?
This only happens when there is a total lunar eclipse. During this event, the Earth stands between the Sun and the Moon, allowing the passage of very little light, which is reflected on its surface, generating a reddish color. It is also often called the blood moon because of its hue.
And have you heard of the blue moon?
Which you’ve seen for sure, because it’s actually not that color, but it’s called that when there’s an “extra” moon in a station that would normally have four full moons. It usually occurs every two and a half years.
- What about the days when the moon seems to be three times its size? This is also an astronomical event and is called the “Supermoon”. The supermoon, which is named because it actually looks much larger than ever, occurs because the satellite is at the closest point to its Earth orbit.
- There are those who believe that the moon alters the mood and behavior of humans, but it is not something that science has been able to prove. Although it is true that some animals become more active, noisy and fertile when the full moon shines.
- Originally the earth had much faster days (5 hours) but it was the gravitational force of the moon that slowed the rotation until the day began to have 24 hours.