Space.com is looking at what we know about the moon and why we care about it. In the lead up to Artemis 1, join us for a special report on moon week.
4.5 billion years ago, a Mars-sized body named Theia slammed into a young, molten Earth, almost decimating it. Our moon was created from the debris created by this cataclysm. The current leading theory of lunar formation isn't that bad.
The moon became an object of fascination when humans arrived. Ancient cultures around the world were curious about the moon, incorporating it into all sorts of myths and legends. From the Greek goddess Selene to the Chinese goddess Chang'e, lunar deities have been around for a long time.
The moon was considered a practical tool in the past. The lunar cycle takes place over 29.5 days, or roughly a month, and is marked by the setting of the sun and the rise and setting of the moon. It's a good way to see how long time has passed. Many North American indigenous peoples named the full moons after seasonal phenomena such as blooms and harvests of flora. Today, we use those names.
There is a guide to observing the moon.
In the fifth century B.C., Greek philosopher Anaxagoras theorizes that the moon was rocky and Earth-like. The invention opened the way for more questions about the moon.
Galileo's first telescope had only 3x magnification. From the 17th to the early 20th century, the moon was a major focus for astronomy, as it was the easiest to study with less powerful telescopes.
Science fiction had fun with the moon. The novel "Somnium" was written in the 16th century and explores what the Earth might look like from the moon. "The Other World: The Comical History of the States and Empires of the World of the Moon" was written by Cyrano de Bergerac. The film "a trip to the moon" was the first sci-fi movie to be made into a movie.
During the space race, fiction began to become reality. Sputnik made history as the first artificial satellite in 1957 and the U.S. moon landing in 1969 as a result of the heated competition between the US and the Soviet Union. During this time, the fascination with the moon was based on national pride and human achievement.
In 1969 an estimated 650 million people watched the televised broadcast of Apollo 11 landing on the moon. New science was enabled when moon rocks were brought into laboratories on Earth.
Some of the rocks have had more serious adventures. Up to 150 of the Apollo astronauts' haul were given away by the U.S. government as diplomatic gifts, but they are still missing.
Joseph Gutheinz, an attorney who once served as an undercover agent for NASA to recover stolen moon rocks, told Space.com that some people are so enamored with possession that they are willing to steal it.
The obsession with the moon waned as NASA focused on other avenues of space exploration and research.
There is renewed interest in the moon in many countries around the world. China has two landers on the lunar surface, as well as the Yutu-2 rover, which is on the far side of the moon, while India has a satellite in the sky. Several countries plan to launch moon missions in the coming years, including Japan, Russia and the U.A.
One of NASA's greatest achievements is returning to the location. The Artemis 1 mission is scheduled to launch on August 29th. Humans will return to the moon for the first time in 42 years on this uncrewed mission.
We will be staying for good, as NASA plans to build a permanent base on the moon as well as the lunar Gateway, which will be a launch point for new crewed missions to deep space.
Gutheinz said that the moon is a source of wonder for most people. It is a lifeless world just out of our grasp. The canvas is waiting for the artist.
Artists are getting their brushes ready.
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