AND YET IT MOVES

Did You Know These 10 Crazy Lunar Facts?

Image: Mahdi Soheili

Humanity has been enamored with the Moon since ancient times. Our closest celestial body not only has captivated human imagination and scientific inquiry like no other, but it might also be partly responsible for our existence.

From cataclysms of cosmic proportions to the possibility of liquid water, and the mysteries behind its lack of atmosphere, there is a wealth of facts to explore about our dearest companion in the Universe. Get ready to embark on a journey to the far side of the Moon!

Image: Brian McGowan

The Moon’s gravity is about one-sixth that of Earth’s, meaning that objects and people weigh significantly less on the lunar surface. This lower gravity affects everything from movement to the behavior of liquids and dust.

The reduced gravity poses unique challenges and opportunities for lunar exploration and habitation. Astronauts on the Moon can leap higher and carry heavier loads than on Earth, but long-term exposure to low gravity requires careful consideration for human health and engineering design.

Image: Lou Batier

The Moon isn't actually white but rather a dark, charcoal gray. It only appears bright because of its high albedo, or the efficiency with which it reflects sunlight.

Despite its dark color, the Moon reflects about 12% of the sunlight that hits it, which is enough to make it appear bright against the backdrop of space. This high reflectivity is due to the regolith, the layer of dust and crushed rock on the lunar surface, which scatters sunlight effectively.

Image: NASA

Unlike Earth, the Moon doesn't have tectonic plates, but it experiences moonquakes -seismic tremors caused by tidal forces from Earth. These quakes can last for up to an hour and can reach a magnitude of about 5 on the Richter scale.

Scientists first detected moonquakes during the Apollo missions, and recent studies using data from seismometers left on the Moon by astronauts have provided valuable insights into its internal structure and composition.

Image: NASA

The Moon's pockmarked surface not only reflects its tumultuous history but also underscores its crucial role as Earth's protector. Without the Moon, our planet would have endured far more frequent impacts from asteroids and comets.

And, as any dinosaur might tell you, it’s never a good thing to be relentlessly pounded by space rocks. Also, these lunar craters serve as portals to the Moon's ancient past, preserving a record of cosmic impacts that shaped planetary evolution.

Image: Nadiia Ploshchenko

The Moon's gravitational pull doesn't just affect ocean tides -it also stabilizes Earth's axial tilt, which influences our planet's climate and seasons over geological time scales. Without the Moon, Earth's tilt could vary dramatically, leading to extreme climate fluctuations.

This stabilizing effect has profound implications for the development and sustainability of life on Earth. Some scientists even believe that, without the Moon, there might not even be life as we know it.

Image: Alexander Andrews

The Moon's orbit around Earth isn't perfectly circular, leading to subtle changes in its appearance called libration. This phenomenon allows us to see slightly more than half of the Moon's surface over time, revealing glimpses of its far side.

Librations have been observed since the time of Galileo, enabling astronomers to gradually map the entirety of the Moon's surface and study its geological features in detail.

Image: Ricardo Gomez Angel

For decades, scientists believed the Moon was bone-dry. However, recent discoveries have revealed traces of water molecules trapped in lunar soil and ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters near the poles.

These findings have profound implications for future lunar exploration, as water is essential for sustaining human life and producing rocket fuel. Mining lunar water could enable long-term lunar habitation and expedite missions to Mars and beyond.

Image: Arto Marttinen

The leading theory for the Moon’s formation is the Theia Hypothesis, which suggests it was created from debris left after a Mars-sized body, Theia, collided with Earth about 4.5 billion years ago.

This colossal impact would have ejected vast amounts of material into orbit around Earth, which eventually coalesced to form the Moon. This hypothesis explains many aspects of the Earth-Moon system, such as the Moon’s composition and its relatively large size compared to other natural satellites.

Image: NASA

While Earth is surrounded by a dense atmosphere that protects life and moderates temperatures, the Moon has an exosphere -a very thin layer of gases like helium, neon, and hydrogen atoms. This sparse atmosphere offers little protection from the harsh environment of space.

However, according to NASA, approximately 4 billion years ago the Moon possessed a relatively thick atmosphere. It was about twice as dense as Mars' current atmosphere, leading some to speculate that it might have been capable of supporting life, although no evidence of life has been discovered. Over time, this atmosphere was stripped away by solar winds and gradually dissipated into space.

Image: Ryan Holloway

Shockingly, the Moon is gradually drifting away from Earth at a rate of about 1.5 inches per year. This process, driven by tidal interactions, has been occurring for billions of years. As the Moon moves away, its gravitational influence on Earth’s tides weakens slightly, and Earth's rotation slows down.

But don't get sad! This process is so slow that long before the Moon has a chance to slip away completely, the Sun's expansion into a red giant will likely engulf most of the solar system, including Earth. Yeah, it might not be the happiest of endings, but still.

Strangely accurate

Warning: once you learn these strange words, you’ll start using them

You know those moments when you struggle to explain something simple, like a feeling, a habit, or a situation, and you think, "How is there no word for this?" Well, surprise: there usually is. English is packed with oddly specific words that describe everyday life with uncanny accuracy. Some are practical, some are funny, and some feel almost too honest. Let’s meet a few that might sound strange at first but will feel very familiar once you get to know them.

We talk about tomorrow all the time, but oddly enough, we rarely give the day after tomorrow a proper name. That is where overmorrow comes in. It is a neat, old word that means exactly that, no extra explanation needed. It used to be part of everyday English, and honestly, it feels like we lost something useful when it faded away.

Just like English once had a word for the day ahead, it also had one for the day behind us. Nudiustertian means the day before yesterday. It sounds grand and a bit theatrical, especially for something so ordinary. Still, it does the job beautifully and makes casual conversation sound far more distinguished than necessary.

Now let’s move from calendars to something far more comfortable: the bed. Clinomania describes that powerful urge to stay under the covers, even when you know you should get up. It is not about being lazy so much as being deeply committed to comfort. If mornings have ever felt like negotiations, this word gets you.

Of course, once you finally leave the bed, another challenge appears: actually getting things done. Fudgel refers to pretending to work while accomplishing very little. People have been fudgeling for centuries, which is oddly comforting. It turns out that "looking busy" is an ancient skill, not a modern invention.

And then there are moments when someone appears busy not by working, but by talking. Bloviate means speaking at great length without saying much of substance. Long speeches, endless stories, and conversations that go nowhere all qualify. The word itself feels inflated, which makes it a perfect match, don’t you think?

Bloviating often goes hand in hand with another familiar habit: giving strong opinions without much knowledge. An ultracrepidarian is someone who does exactly that. The term has been around for ages, which suggests people have always had thoughts on things they barely understand, and have never been shy about sharing them.

Sometimes, listening to an ultracrepidarian makes you want to do one thing only: leave. And there are many ways of leaving, but this one feels quite appropriate. Absquatulate means to make a sudden exit, often to avoid discomfort or trouble. It has a playful sound, but the impulse behind it is universal. We have all wanted to disappear quietly at least once.

Of course, not every uncomfortable moment sends us running. Sometimes it settles right in the stomach. Collywobbles describes that nervous, fluttery, slightly uneasy feeling we get when something feels off. The word is light and bouncy, which helps soften a sensation most people would rather avoid.

And when that uneasy feeling spreads, you might start to wamble. To wamble is to feel unsteady or unsettled, whether it is shaky legs or a queasy stomach. It is one of those words that sounds exactly like the feeling it describes, which makes it surprisingly satisfying to say. Try it out!

Let’s wrap it up with a word you have probably needed at least once! The word discombobulate means to be confused or thrown off, usually in a harmless, everyday way. Missed plans, mixed messages, or a sudden change can all discombobulate us. It sounds dramatic, but the experience is wonderfully ordinary.