Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Explore the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

24 September 2014
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ NorfolkΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Norfolk

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔpage
England
Β» Norfolk
KidsΜύ

Contact Us

Graphic: You are in Norfolk > KidsGo to Norfolk homepageGo to kids index

08 May 2006 1124 BST
Pic: Mark Lawrik-Thompson
Graphic: Astronomy: your questions answered
Norfolk astronomer and Chairman of the Norwich Astronomical Society Mark Thompson is here to answer your questions about space.

Why does the Moon have craters and the Earth does not?
ANDREW, AGE 9, BIRMINGHAM

Answer: The Earth does have craters, just not as many as the Moon. Craters on the Moon, Earth or any other planet are made when chunks of rock smash into it and dent the surface.

One of the differences between the Moon and Earth though is that the Earth has an atmosphere. As rocks enter our atmosphere, they burn up and get destroyed so it’s only the biggest pieces that reach the surface and make a dent or crater.

The Moon doesn’t have much of an atmosphere so smaller rocks get through and hit the surface. The atmosphere on Earth also means we have lots of weather; rain and wind, which eventually erodes the craters. Again, the Moon does not have this so craters stay for a lot longer.

Picture: the Moon during an eclipse
The Moon during an eclipse

Where is the moon in its orbit when we cannot see it at all?
MADDIE LEADON, AGE 11, HARLOW

Answer: We see the Moon because it is lit up by sunlight. As the Moon goes around the Earth we see different amounts of this lit up portion of it.

When the Moon lies between us and the Sun, all of the lit up portion is facing the Sun and is turned away from the Earth so we only see the dark side. This means we cannot see it. This is when the Moon is said to be at the New Moon phase.

How does the moon produce light?
RITIKA, AGE 9, LONDON

Answer: The Sun is the only thing in our Solar System that gives off its own light. We can see the Moon because light from the Sun bounces off it back to the Earth. If the Sun wasn't there, we wouldn't be able to see it.

How many days does it take for the moon to orbit the Earth?
FRANKEE, AGE 13, BURGESS HILL

Answer: It takes the Moon just about 27 days to go around the Earth once. It also takes about 27 days to spin once. This means we always see the same face of the Moon.

Why does the Moon seem to change shape?
BOB, AGE 8, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Answer: We see the Sun because it gives off light, like a light bulb does. We see the Moon in the sky because light from the Sun bounces off it and gets to Earth.

As the Moon moves around the Earth and Sun, we see different parts of the Moon being lit up by the Sun. When we see a Full Moon we see all of the daytime side of the Moon, when we see a crescent Moon, we see a little bit of the night time side and a lot of the daytime side.

Picture: The face of the Moon by Ian Law
The face of the Moon by Ian Law

Is there day and night on the moon?
BRANDON, AGE 10, WILDWOOD

Answer: There is day and night on the Moon. We only ever see one side of the Moon but it does experience days and nights like us.

Does the moon rise at the same time and at different locations around the Earth?
JARREN, JACKSON, MS

Answer: If you watch the Moon rising night after night, you will see that it rises at a different time each evening.

On the same night but from different places on the Earth you will see how it rises at different times.

Does the moon rotate on it's own axis? Do we only see one side of the moon always?
BOB, AGE 44, KONA, HI

Answer: The Moon does rotate on its own axis, taking about 27 days to spin once. It also takes the Moon about 27 days to complete one orbit of the Earth.

This means that we always see the same face of the Moon from Earth.

Why does the Moon sometimes look so close to the earth and other times look so far away?
JURDAN, AGE 9

Answer: The Moon doesn't travel around the Earth in a circle, it travels around it in something we call an ellipse.

This just looks like a squashed circle. It means that sometimes the Moon is closer to us and other times is farther away.

Why don't things grow on the Moon and why do we have to wear spacesuits?
RYAN GRIFFITH, AGE 6

Answer: Plants need an atmosphere to grow and we need an atmosphere to breathe.

The Moon has no atmosphere so plants cannot grow and we need to wear a spacesuit so we can breathe..

Read more: The Moon Β»

Got a question? Send them to us here Β»

Μύ


jump to homepage.
send an e-mail to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ website for Norfolk.
Print friendly version of this page
jump to top of page.
See also
Μύ

On this site

Astronomy index

Ask the astronomer

International Space Station

Make a rocket

Make a sundial

New Planet

Planet Jupiter

Planet Mars

The Moon

Planets Pluto, Neptune and Uranus

Planet Saturn

Planet Venus

The Star of Bethlehem

The Sun

Your questions answered

Venus passes in front of the Sun

On bbc.co.uk





On the rest of the web












The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is not responsible for the content of external websites

Grahpic: More Norfolk kids

Picture: Lydia: link.

Book review: The Inventors

Jake pops back home

Gardening with grandpa Gipp

Graphic: Not to be missed

Norfolk has loads of cool stuff for kids to do. Check out what's on offer and enjoy these features.
Graphic: Stuff to do and make

Looking for stuff to do at home or with your mates? Try these makes and science experiments.
Graphic: Live webchat with Chris Rankin: link

Weasley webchat: What did you ask actor Chris Rankin?
Graphic: A-Z of Norfolk Science: link

Amazing scientific facts and features where you live




About the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy
Μύ