Buzz
The Moon, our closest companion in the vast expanse of space, is the only celestial body we’ve had the opportunity to physically explore. Despite its proximity and our familiarity with it, this enigmatic satellite still holds many intriguing secrets. From its scientific oddities to the countless ways it influences our daily lives, the Moon remains an enigma well worth delving deeper into.
10. Moonquakes
Although the Moon appears to be a lifeless chunk of rock with minimal geological activity, it experiences occasional shaking events. These seismic occurrences, known as moonquakes, come in four distinct types. The first three—deep quakes, tremors from meteorite impacts, and thermal quakes induced by the Sun’s warmth—are generally harmless. The fourth type, however, can be quite unsettling. These “shallow” moonquakes can reach magnitudes of up to 5.5 on the Richter scale, strong enough to move heavy furniture, and can persist for an astonishing 10 minutes. NASA has noted that during these quakes, the Moon also resonates, making it “ring like a bell.”
The mysterious nature of moonquakes lies in the fact that we still don’t fully understand what triggers them. Earth’s earthquakes typically arise from the movement of tectonic plates, but the Moon lacks active plate tectonics. Some scientists speculate that they could be linked to Earth’s tidal effects, which are influenced by the Moon’s gravitational pull. However, this theory remains unproven, as the tidal forces affect the entire Moon, while moonquakes tend to be more localized.
9. The ‘Twin Planet’ Theory
Many people view the Moon simply as a moon, but some argue it might actually qualify as a planet. For one, it’s far too large to be considered a “true” moon. At roughly a quarter of Earth's diameter, it’s the largest moon in our solar system in relation to its parent planet. (Pluto does have a moon called Charon, which is half its diameter, but since Pluto is no longer considered a planet, this comparison doesn’t count.)
Given its considerable size, the Moon doesn’t orbit Earth in the traditional sense. Instead, Earth and the Moon revolve around a shared point in space. This point, known as the barycenter, is located inside the Earth’s crust, creating the illusion that the Moon orbits Earth. The only reason Earth and the Moon aren’t classified as twin planets, rather than a planet and its moon, is because the barycenter lies within the Earth. This distinction may change in the future.
8. Lunar Litter
While most people are aware that humans have landed on the Moon, few realize that we left quite a bit of junk behind. Over the years, astronauts visiting the lunar surface have inadvertently created a fair amount of litter. It’s estimated that around 181,437 kilograms (roughly 400,000 lbs) of human-made materials are scattered across the Moon.
But don’t fret—it’s not like astronauts intentionally tossed sandwich wrappers and banana peels on the Moon. The majority of this debris consists of leftover items from various experiments, space missions, and lunar rovers. Interestingly, some of it is still operational today. Of course, there’s also genuine waste, like astronaut waste containers. Yuck.
7. The Moon as a Resting Place
Eugene ‘Gene’ Shoemaker, a renowned astronomer and geologist, was a true pioneer in his field. He is credited with founding the study of cosmic impacts and developed the methods and techniques that Apollo astronauts later used in their lunar research.
Shoemaker had long dreamed of becoming an astronaut himself, but was denied the opportunity due to a minor medical condition. This rejection remained his greatest regret throughout his life. Yet, despite this, Shoemaker never gave up on his dream of visiting the Moon. When he passed away, NASA honored his greatest wish by sending his ashes to the Moon aboard the Lunar Prospector in 1998. His remains now rest there, mingled with the dust of the Moon’s surface.
6. Lunar Oddities
Several images captured by various spacecraft visiting the Moon have revealed some strange sights on its surface. These photographs often depict what appear to be man-made structures, including small canister-like objects and the ‘Shard,’ a towering formation that may reach at least 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) in height. Some paranormal theorists even claim to have spotted a massive castle suspended above the Moon’s surface. These findings have led some to speculate that an advanced civilization once inhabited the Moon and constructed complex buildings.
NASA has never really made an effort to disprove these peculiar theories. This might be due to the fact that the images showcasing these ‘evidence of life’ have likely been altered by conspiracy theorists.
5. Lunar Dust
One of the most unexpected dangers on the Moon is its lunar dust. While sand can be a nuisance on Earth, on the Moon, it’s downright dangerous. Lunar dust is as fine as flour, yet incredibly abrasive. Due to its texture and the Moon’s weak gravity, it sticks to everything without fail.
NASA has encountered numerous issues due to lunar dust. It has worn down astronauts’ boots almost completely and scratched their visors like sandpaper. The dust has also made its way into the spacecraft, carried by space suits, and caused ‘moon hay fever’ in the unfortunate astronauts who inhaled it. It’s believed that continued exposure to the dust could even lead to airlocks failing and spacesuits deteriorating.
And in case you’re curious: Yes, this troublesome substance definitely smells like spent gunpowder.
4. Challenges of Low Gravity
Although the Moon’s gravity is only one-sixth that of Earth, navigating its surface isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Buzz Aldrin mentions that moving on the Moon was actually quite challenging. The space suits were cumbersome, and the astronauts’ feet would sink into the lunar dust by up to 15 centimeters (6 inches).
Even with the low gravity, inertia (the resistance to changes in motion) is still significant on the Moon, making it tough to move quickly or change direction. To pick up speed beyond a slow walk, the astronauts had to perform awkward kangaroo-like hops. This posed another problem, as the Moon’s surface is riddled with craters and other tripping hazards.
3. Lunar Shadows
When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first set foot on the Moon’s mysterious surface, they quickly made an unsettling discovery: The shadows on the Moon were much darker than those on Earth, thanks to the absence of an atmosphere. Anything not directly illuminated by the Sun was completely black. As soon as they stepped into a shadow, they could no longer see it, even with the Sun blazing overhead.
Although they soon adapted to the Moon’s shadows, the stark contrast between dark and sunlit areas posed a constant challenge. Things became even more puzzling when they realized that some of the shadows—especially their own—had halos. They later discovered this eerie effect was due to the opposition effect, a phenomenon that causes certain dark shadowed areas to appear surrounded by a glowing halo when viewed at a specific angle to the Sun.
The Moon’s peculiar shadows caused problems on several Apollo missions. Some astronauts struggled to complete maintenance tasks because their hands would block the view of their work, while others mistakenly thought they were landing on a steep slope due to the deep shadows that appeared like a cave.
2. The Moon and Sleep
The Moon’s influence on Earth and vice versa is undeniable. However, its effects on humans remain a topic of ongoing debate. Many believe the full moon brings out peculiar behavior in people, though science hasn’t provided conclusive evidence to support this. One thing science has confirmed, however, is that the Moon likely disrupts our sleep cycle.
A volunteer-based study by the University of Basel in Switzerland found that the phases of the Moon noticeably affect—and disturb—human sleep patterns, with the worst sleep typically occurring during the full moon. If this finding is correct, it could explain the so-called ‘full moon madness’ theory: If people aren’t getting a good night’s sleep during the full moon, it stands to reason that more strange events would occur than on a typical night.
1. The Moon’s Origins
Where did the Moon come from? The simple answer is that we still don’t truly know. However, scientists have formulated a few well-informed hypotheses.
There are five primary theories regarding the Moon’s origin. The Fission Theory suggests that the Moon was once part of Earth and was separated in the very early stages of our planet’s history. This would make the Moon a part of what is now the Pacific Ocean basin. The Capture Theory proposes that the Moon was wandering through space until Earth’s gravity pulled it in. Other theories suggest that the Moon was formed from the collision of Earth with an unknown Mars-sized planet or from a collection of asteroids.
At present, the most plausible explanation for the Moon’s origin is the Ejected Ring Theory, also known as the Giant Impact Theory. According to this hypothesis, a protoplanet named Theia collided with Earth. The resulting cloud of debris gradually condensed to form the Moon.
+ Lunar Magnetism
One of the Moon's most intriguing puzzles is the absence of its magnetic field. This became especially perplexing when the moon rocks brought back by astronauts in the 1960s and 1970s were discovered to be magnetic. Could they have originated from aliens? How could they possess magnetism if the Moon itself didn’t? What was the explanation?
Recent scientific discoveries have revealed that the Moon once had a magnetic field. While the cause of its disappearance remains uncertain, two primary theories have emerged. One group of researchers believes it was due to natural movements within the Moon’s iron core, while another theory suggests that a series of large impacts from space rocks may have played a role in the loss of its magnetic field.
