IVC Planetary Geology for Teachers

Preview of Concepts and tasks in Module 6

Concepts and vocabulary list

near side
dark side
far side
KREEP
KREEP basalt
maria
mare
terrae
ecliptic plane

Preview of tasks

Task 1 -    Moon Study Questions

1. Why does Earth have tides?  How many high tides and low tides are there in a day?  What is a spring tide?  What is a neap tide? 
2. Why do we see phases of the moon?  Write an explanation, and describe the phases of the moon.
3. Discuss (in writing) theories of Moon formation.  Describe the current theories, and cite the evidence that led the proponents of each theory to their conclusion.
4. List five significant lunar discoveries that were made before the twentieth century.  Use the names of astronomers (Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, Copernicus, and so on) as search terms. 
   

Task 2 -    Moon Study Questions

1.  Look at the Moon in various phases and become familiar with features that can be seen with the naked eye. Then observe the Moon through binoculars resting on a steady surface or through a telescope. Note the different features that can be observed at each scale, as well as the fact that these features remain constant. Compare the naked eye view and the view through binoculars or telescope in writing in a few sentences.

2.  Why aren’t there any large, high topography volcanic features on the Moon? If the basaltic plains are similar to volcanic structure on the Snake River Plain, would you not expect to see cinder cones, rhyolitic ash deposits, or even composite volcanoes? Is there any evidence for explosive basaltic eruptions on the Moon?

3.  Visit the explosive volcanism website to help answer the last part of this question:

a.  What are the locations of the six Apollo expeditions to the Moon? Compare them with those of the Russian Luna unmanned missions (see Table 2, p. 45 in the text, or other tables or diagrams). What were the highlights of the Ranger and Surveyor missions to the Moon?

b.  What processes of crater modification would NOT prevail on the Moon yet are found on other planetary bodies?

c.  Why do some craters have flat floors?

4.  View image of Plum crater and answer the following questions (this is not an easy question).
NOTE: This crater is called Flag Crater in some references.

a.  What type of crater is this? Locate each of the following features on Plum (Flag) Crater, or say if they are not present:

5.  How are sinuous rilles different from meandering river channels found on Earth?

6.  What are the major division of the Moon’s geologic history, and what would you expect to find the in stratigraphic record for each time period?

Go back to module 6 part 1