1. What Do You Know About the Moon?
By Cindy Grigg
1
Photo Credit: NASA. Scientist-Astronaut
Harrison H. Schmitt is photographed
standing next to a huge, split boulder during
the third Apollo 17 extravehicular activity
(EVA-3) at the Taurus-Littrow landing site on
the Moon. Schmitt is the Apollo 17 lunar
module pilot. This picture was taken by
Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, commander.
2
Look up at night and the first thing you most likely see is the
moon. What do you know about the moon?
3
How big is it? If the Earth were the size of a basketball, the
moon would be about the size of a tennis ball or an apple. The
moon looks a lot bigger than the stars, but it's just because the
moon is closer to Earth than any star is.
4
How close to Earth is the moon? Not very close - almost a
quarter million miles away!
5
What is the moon made of? The moon is made of rock like
Earth is. In fact, scientists think that a large comet or asteroid
might have hit Earth and knocked a big chunk off of it. That chunk
became our moon.
6
Why is the moon so bright? The moon doesn't make light. The
sun's light is reflected off the rocky surface of the moon.
7
Could people live on the moon? The moon has no air and no
water. There is nothing living on the moon. Men have walked on
the moon. They had to take their own air to breathe. They had to
take food and water, too. They had to wear spacesuits to keep
them warm and cool. At night, the moon gets very cold. During
the day it is hotter than boiling water! Spacesuits were also
needed to protect them from the sun's harmful rays. The
3. What Do You Know About the Moon?
1. How far from Earth is the 2. What is the moon made of?
moon? Green cheese
Almost a quarter million Rock
miles A man
Almost a half million
miles
Almost three-quarter
million miles
3. Does the moon make light? 4. It is cold on the moon all the
No time.
Yes No
Yes
5. What is the weather like on 6. Gravity on the moon is
the moon? ______ gravity on Earth.
Much more than
Much less than
The same as
4. Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
What Do You Know About the Moon?
7. There are seas on the moon. 8. Why do some people think
False the moon looks like a face?
True
5. Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
What Do You Know About the Moon?
"It would be hard to live on the moon." Tell why the writer said this. Give as many reasons
as you can.
7. Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
What Do You Know About the Moon?
Would you like to take a trip to the moon? Tell why or why not. If you went, what would
you need to take with you?
8. Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
What Do You Know About the Moon?
One of the astronauts hit a golf ball on the moon. The ball went a lot farther than it would
have on Earth. What sport would you like to play on the moon? Tell why.
9. Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
What Do You Know About the Moon?
What is it that you would like to know about the moon?