We encourage you to revisit that Wonder and leave your comment again!

We're glad you found it helpful. And the most exciting days of lunar activity may still lie ahead as NASA sends humans on the next missions to the Moon and eventually on to Mars! Enjoy and always keep WONDERing! that is right the ocean is measured in feet! 14 September 2016. https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-does-the-moon-do. :-), Hi, firefly! Ten other American astronauts followed. You're right, the moon is very important, Mikayala! I didn't know that the moon phases control the tide. You're welcome, Bailey! The moon is actually moving away from the Earth little by little each year! Thank you for the great info, because I always wanted to know how the moon effected the Earth.

They collected hundreds of pounds of lunar soil and rock samples, conducted experiments and installed equipment for follow-up measurements. Sometimes schools block videos from being played. We are glad this WONDER grabbed your attention. Great job reading through this Wonder! :), Hi A.V.! We're so glad that you're learning about the moon and tides! There are many WONDERS about the moon, but unfortunately none specifically describe each phase of the moon. I was really surprised that the gravitational pulls create high and low tide. There are also other WONDERS you can explore. This graphic shows all eight moon phases we see as the Moon makes a complete orbit of Earth about every four weeks. The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite and one that we can easily see most nights. Are you at school?

You're enthusiasm is GREAT! It creates neat tides. Today, we know that the Moon is covered by craters as well as dust and debris from comets, asteroids and meteoroid impacts. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the Wonder! The moon's gravitational pull is strongest on the side that faces the Earth. the Wonder of the Day® via email or SMS. but all I see is extra stuff. The New Moon is the first lunar phase, when both the Sun and the Moon are at the same celestial longitude. From Earth, it might look like the Moon is changing shape each night – from a tiny sliver to a half moon to a full moon and back again. :), Hi, mark! Wonder #757: What Can Happen During a Full Moon? Super! We're sure you can find one you like better! Try this experiment! It reminds us of Wonder#131: Where Is the Deepest Place On Earth? Large lakes, such as the Great Lakes, also have tides, but the change in water level is only inches.

The highest tides in the world occur in the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, Canada. All kinds of bad stuff would happen. :), Thank you for the feedback, Eli. Tides are caused by gravitational forces of the moon and the sun. Perhaps you could watch it from home or at the library? :), Hi, GHFYUFVVYJUGGHUGHHGGYDFTUSLGBFYVCVYFUM! If so, does it block falling asteroids and other falling objects? Get ready to meet a part of speech that doesn't mean what it says and doesn't say what it means. there you go you better fix it please, I could not watch the video for some reason. What do we know about the Moon? The Moon is the only other planetary body that humans have visited. Yo, why does the moon pull only the ocean and not the entire Earth.

Spring tides occur during the full moon and new moon phases. The Moon affects are very important and impacting on the human body, our mental health and even women's menstrual cycles. The Moon is believed to have blocked falling space debris from Earth! The word “tides" describes the regular rising and falling of the ocean's surface. That means we always see the same side of the Moon from our position on Earth. We're not sure what happened! Don’t miss our special deals, gifts and promotions. the moon is a bright object in the sky that keeps us staying on the ground by gravity. :-). It is the fifth-largest satellite in the Solar System, and by far the largest among planetary satellites relative to the size of the planet that it orbits. Adam And Samantha Callis i did not like it very much but i did ENjyeaning about the tide. Thanks for your patience. We're glad to have you WONDERing with us! Thanks for WONDERing with us!

The moon's gravitational pull is strongest on It's one of our favorite WONDERS, too! Glad this one was helpful for you, Peter! The Moon has always held a special place in our imaginations and in daily life. What Happens if You Wake a Bear From Hibernation? Thanks for asking, carl and Jason! today i am more ready then ever to read your WONDERS! You might think that the opposite side of the Earth would experience a low tide, but that would be incorrect! We know that the Moon’s dark areas, called maria – which is Latin for seas – are not actually seas. The impact sent chunks of Earth and the impactor into space that were pulled together by gravity, creating the Moon. Wonderopolis. You’ve matched all of the definitions correctly. Because the moon moves around the Earth, it's not always in the same place at the same time each day. 2014–2020 © National Center for Families Learning, http://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-does-the-moon-do, © National Center for Families Learning (NCFL). Do you have the name of the author though? :), Thanks for submitting your idea, Cat! What are the different types of full moons? Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech, The "far side" of the Moon looks very different than the near side (see the first photo in this article). Even though the moon is much smaller than the sun, it has two times more influence on tides than the sun, simply because it is much closer to the Earth. I just what to know how the moon is not gone yet if some thing hits it how can it not break, Wow so cool we dont need the sun or moon btw. The moon's gravitational force pulls on water in the oceans and causes bulges that create “high tide." As it collects energy from the Earth, the moon moves further away from the planet at a distance of 3.8 centimeters per year. :), We agree, Amanda!

), The Secret Science of Solving Crossword Puzzles, Racist Phrases to Remove From Your Mental Lexicon. I'm surprised that the sun and the moon work together to control the tide. Thanks for WONDERing with us! However, our view of the Moon does change. Isaac Newton first explained tides scientifically in 1686. You'll get to feel the power of the moon — on a ball in a bowl. Instead, they are craters that lava seeped into billions of years ago. Ocean tides are measured in feet. :), Hey, Sage! We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply. During these times, the combined gravitational pull of the moon and the sun is very strong. To me, it makes everything a bit more fun! Thanks for WONDERing with us! As the Moon travels around Earth, different parts of it are lit up by the Sun. Sorry you're having trouble! For centuries, many civilizations acknowledged that the moon's cycles influence everything from the female menstrual cycle to planting and harvesting times for crops. All I wanna know is what the phases of the moon do for us?

Neap tides occur during the quarter moon phase. it might look like the Moon is changing shape. Web. Do you like exploring space too, Shrinithi? Even though the moon is much smaller than the sun, it has two times more influence on tides than the sun, simply because it is much closer to the Earth. :), Hello, mr. awsome!

We know that the Moon’s dark areas, called maria – which is Latin for seas – are not actually seas. Awesom!

Is the Coronavirus Crisis Increasing America's Drug Overdoses? Today, we study the Moon using telescopes and spacecraft. 14 September 2016. https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-does-the-moon-do. The former Soviet Union logged the first successes with its Luna program, starting with Luna 1 in 1959. Credit: NASA. It’s no wonder that we are fascinated. I commented once singing everything is awesome and it didn't show up! But my question is would we be ok without the moon or is the moon a need?

Later, people used their observations of the Moon to create calendars. You can submit ideas for future WONDERS here. Great question, talan! We think so too, Sabrina! Explore the Moon! It sounds like you learned a lot from this WONDER. Without the Sun, our Moon would be completely dark. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Earth, there is another high tide created by the moon slightly pulling the Earth away from the still water on that side. How does the moon get in between the sun and the earth? What do you find most interesting? The Earth and the Moon are both moving! Thank you for sharing your personal connection to this Wonder! are you ready to wonder wonderopolis? The gravitational pull of the moon controls the rise and fall of tides on Earth and slows the planet's rotation, while the phases of the moon serve as calendar markers for human beings. the alternate rising and falling of the sea, usually twice in each lunar day at a particular place, due to the attraction of the moon and sun, something that bulges out or is protuberant or projects from its surroundings, the phase of the moon when it is in conjunction with the sun and invisible from earth, or shortly thereafter when it appears as a slender crescent, any distinct time period in a sequence of events, the instant, approximately one week after a new moon, when one half of the moon's disk is illuminated by the sun, a straight line at right angles to another line, the time when the Moon is fully illuminated, of or relating to or caused by gravitation, that is, the force that pulls planets, stars, or particles toward one another. Come back and Wonder with us again soon!

The Proxigean Spring Tide is a rare, very high tide that occurs when the moon is unusually close to the Earth and in a new moon phase. The Moon is an astronomical body orbiting Earth and is the planet's only natural satellite. if you are a WONDERopolis master that means you read WONDERopolis's WONDER's everyday! Thank you for letting us know why tides occur. p.s. The Moon can be seen with the naked eye most nights as it traces its 27-day orbit around our planet. Earth has just one moon – a rocky, cratered place, roughly a quarter the size of Earth and an average of 238,855 miles away. What did you do while you were there?

Cool - thanks for letting us know! Here is how you would cite this Wonder ---> "What Does the Moon Do?" This image appeared in a 1902 French film called "Le Voyage dans la Lune" ("A Trip to the Moon"). High tides occur on the portion of the Earth closest to the moon and the portion farthest away. SCIENCE — Earth and Space. Want to create a tide in your own home? It's fun to see everyone realize the tide is coming in, then see them scrambling to gather their belongings and head to higher ground! Festival of Sacrifice: The Past and Present of the Islamic Holiday of Eid al-Adha. On July 20, 1969, NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were the first people to set foot on the dusty surface of the Moon. Open your favorite web browser and start an Internet search--or pay a visit to your local library! The Moon does not shine with its own light. :), Great WONDERing, Jonathan Duncan!