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(1) The moon (5) has been described (4) by songwriters and poets (3) as a place (2) for a romantic escape. (5) We know of course (1) that the moon (4) is actuall (3) a very hostile environment (2) for human beings. (1) The moon (2) is completely devoid of water (3) because the force of gravity on the moon (5) is much less (4) than on the earth. (1) The moon is much smaller, (2) its surface (3) is about as large as Africa. (1) The lack of a strong gravitational pull (8) has caused (5) any water (2) the moon (7) may have had to leak out (6) into space (4) over the 4.6 billion years (3) that it has been in existence. (1) Of course, (2) since there is no water, (3) there is also no vegatation. (1) So if you go, (2) bring your lunch. (1)There is no air on the moon (2) because its gravity (4) is insufficient (3) to retain an atmosphere. Accordingly, (2) travellers to the moon (8) require (3) not only oxygen and water (7) but also protection (6) against cosmic rays (5) that are unfiltered (4) by an atmosphere. (1) No atmosphere (4) also means (3) no weather-(2) no wind, no rain, no clouds. (1) Temperatures on the moon (3) are quite extreme, (2) ranging from 110°C to - 173°C. (1) This occurs because (7) there is no atmosphere (3) to filter the sun’s rays (2) when it is shining (4) and then (6) to blanket in warm air (5) when the sun goes down. (1) These extremes of temperature (7) are particularly striking (6) during a solar eclipse, (5) when the earth passes directly (4) between the sun and the moon, (3) temporarily blotting out (2) the sun’s light. (1) At such times (2) the temperature on the moon (3) dips very rapidly (4) and then (7) rises immediately (6) as the sun emerges (5) from the earth’s shadow. (1) The change in temperature (3) may be as much as 200°C (2) in one hour! (1) This sudden change (4) can cause (3) rocks to shatter (2) due to the alternate expanding and contracting. (1) Thus if you visit the moon, (2) deciding what to wear (3) could be a problem. (2) There is no twilight or dawn (1) on the moon. (1) Like the earth, (2) the moon (4) does not shine (3) by its own light; (1) it reflects the light of the sun. (1) Unlike the earth, however, (5) there is no atmosphere (4) to diffuse the light (2) as day becomes night and (3) night turns into day. (1) Changes from light to dark and dark to light (2) occur suddenly. (1) The lunar sky is black. (1) (Blue sky on the earth (5) is produced (4) by the scattering of blue light (3) in the spectrum by particles of air.) (1) On the moon (2) stars are visible in the daytime, (1) but (5) you would have to shield (4) your eyes (3) from the unfiltered sunlight (2) to view them. (1)There is no sound on the moon. (1) Sound (3) travels (2) on waves of air molecules. (1) Since there is no air, (3) there is nothing (2) to transmit sound. (1) Leave your transistor home. (1) Also, the moon (3) is not a magnet (2) the way the earth is. (2) You can leave (1) your compass home too. (1) The moon (4) is a satellite of the earth, (3) revolving around the earth (2) once every twenty nine and a half days. (1)The moon itself rotates, (2) but (3) it does so very slowly. (1)Therefore (2) the same side of the moon (3) is always visible to us. (1)To get to the moon, (8)you would have to travel (7) 240,000 miles, (4)a distance (6)that is about the same (3)as circling the earth (2) at the equator (5) ten times. (6) It is clear that (2) if you were making a trip (1)to the moon, (5) you would need to pack (3) more than a toothbrush and (4) a change of underwear. (1) Its adverse conditions (3) would make it very difficult (2) for a visitor from the earth. |
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