What Is the Moon Like?

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite, shining brightly in the night sky. Although it looks bright from Earth, the Moon does not make its own light. Instead, it reflects light from the Sun like a giant mirror.

The environment on the Moon is very different from our home planet. There is no atmosphere, which means there is no air to breathe and no weather. You will never see rain, wind, or clouds on the Moon. Because there is no atmosphere to trap heat, temperatures are extreme. During the day, the surface becomes extremely hot, but at night, it gets freezing cold.

The surface of the Moon is covered with grey dust, rocks, and large holes called craters. These craters were created long ago when giant space rocks hit the Moon. Additionally, gravity on the Moon is much weaker than on Earth. If you visit the Moon, you can jump six times higher than you can at home!

In 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon. He left footprints in the dusty ground. Because there is no wind to blow the dust away, those famous footprints are still there today. The Moon remains a mysterious and exciting place for scientists to explore.

[hr]

Exercise 1: Questions

1. Where does the Moon get its bright light?
2. Why are there no rain, wind, or clouds on the Moon?
3. What happens to the temperature on the Moon at night?
4. What are the large holes on the Moon's surface called?
5. How were craters on the Moon created?
6. How high can you jump on the Moon compared to Earth?
7. Who was the first human to walk on the Moon, and in what year did it happen?

[hr]

Exercise 2: True or False

1. The Moon makes its own bright light at night.
2. There is no air or weather on the Moon.
3. Daytime on the Moon is freezing cold.
4. Large holes on the Moon's surface are called craters.
5. Gravity on the Moon is stronger than gravity on Earth.
6. Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon in 1969.
7. Wind on the Moon blew away Neil Armstrong's footprints many years ago.

[hr]

Exercise 3: Personal Questions

1. Would you like to travel to the Moon in a spaceship one day? Why or why not?
2. How would you feel if you could jump six times higher on the Moon?
3. What is your favorite thing to look at in the night sky (the Moon, stars, or planets)?
4. If you could meet an astronaut, what question would you ask them about space?
5. Why do you think scientists want to build houses or bases on the Moon in the future?

[hr]
[hr]
[hr]

Answer Key

Exercise 1: Questions

1. The Moon reflects light from the Sun.
2. There are no rain, wind, or clouds because the Moon has no atmosphere.
3. At night, the temperature gets freezing cold.
4. The large holes are called craters.
5. Craters were created when giant space rocks hit the Moon.
6. You can jump six times higher on the Moon than on Earth.
7. Neil Armstrong was the first human to walk on the Moon in 1969.

Exercise 2: True or False

1. False The Moon does not make its own light; it reflects light from the Sun.
2. True
3. False Daytime on the Moon surface becomes extremely hot; it gets freezing cold at night.
4. True
5. False Gravity on the Moon is much weaker than on Earth.]
6. True
7. False There is no wind on the Moon, so the footprints are still there today.