moon

The Moon 

 //**__The Moon:__**// //The definition of a moon according to "__The Essential Cosmic Perspective 3rd edition__", by Jeffrey Bennett, is "An object that orbits a planet."// The Moon is much more than just an object orbiting our planet. Other than being the brightest object in the night sky, the moon is responsible for much more, such as; tides, structuring our 24-hour days; and preventing Earth from shifting on it's rotational axis. Additionally, some people like to believe the myth that the moon is responsible for changing some people into strange creatures that drive others mad (i.e. **luna**tics).

__//**Moon Formation:**//__ The earth didn't always have a moon, not until a planet the size of mars collided with earth. The impact blasted a lot of debris to space forming a ring around earth just like Saturn. Over the course of thousands of years the ring, with the help of Earth's gravity, the debris clumped together forming the moon. Back then, the moon was much closer to the Earth and the tides were much higher. The moon has been drifting away from Earth on a rate of 1 inches per year, so it is much farther away now.

The moon has many phases, which can be viewed below in the Earth-Moon-Sun diagram. The lunar phases are created by the changing angles of the Earth, the Moon and the Sun, as the Moon orbits the Earth.


 * Melissa Hoge**
 * Spring 2018**

Dark Spots on Moon **AUTHOR**: Unknown. This site is owned and operated by Wattcon Technologies Pvt Ltd. **DATE REVIEWED**: May 5, 2018 **REVIEWED BY**: Melissa Hoge **ACCURACY**: The information seems to be accurate and up to date. I did not find any facts that contradict information from texts. **READABILITY and CLARITY**: The explanation of how the moon as formed and why there are craters is broken down in a fashion that is easy to understand and would be easy for middle school students to follow. **EASE OF NAVIGATION**: Aside from one link in the article, there is also a reference section regarding the dark spots on the moon. Additionally, there is a search engine within the site that you can use to look up other "science" facts.
 * ScienceABC.com **
 * LAST UPDATE** : March 7, 2017
 * OVERVIEW** : ScienceABC.com was started with the sole objective of finding and spreading fun and interesting science facts. The website is curated by a bunch of people supremely excited about Science, with the hope that the fun that we have in curating it would be the same for everyone reading it. This page explains how the moon was formed, what the dark spots are and how they were formed. There is also a brief summary of why the Earth doesn't have as many craters as the Moon.

**AUTHOR**: Unknown **REVIEWED BY**: Melissa Hoge **ACCURACY**: The information seems to be accurate and up to date. I did not find any facts that contradict information from texts. **READABILITY and CLARITY**: The explanation of why there are moon phases and what their importance is, is broken down in a fashion that is easy to understand and would be easy for middle school students to follow. **EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are many links in the left hand navigation panel that take you to other web pages about the moon, within the moonconnection.com site.
 * Moonconnection.com **
 * [|Moon phases] **
 * LAST UPDATE** : Unknown
 * OVERVIEW** : The website gives details on a moon phase is, why they happen and what each phase is (as noted in the diagram listed above and within the webpage).
 * DATE REVIEWED** : May 15, 2018

**OVERVIEW**: The article gives a brief description as to why the moon "shines", when it is at its brightest as well as how it reflects the sunlight. **REVIEWED BY**: Melissa Hoge **ACCURACY**: The information seems to be accurate and up to date. I did not find any facts that contradict information from texts. **READABILITY and CLARITY**: The article is a very quick read but has some good information. The information can easily be understood by middle-school age children. **EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are multiple links at the end of the article for different sites, which also give information as to why the moon shines.
 * livescience.com **
 * [|Why Does the Moon Shine]**
 * AUTHOR:** Elizabeth Palermo
 * LAST UPDATE** : May 29, 2014
 * DATE REVIEWED** : May 5, 2018

**OVERVIEW**: This page covers 7 of the most unusual myths and theories about the moon. They talk about how the moon "makes you crazy", can cause fertility, aliens and more.
 * History.com **
 * [|7 Unusual Myths and Theories about the Moon]**
 * AUTHOR** : History.com staff
 * LAST UPDATE** : August 27, 2013
 * DATE REVIEWED** : May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED BY** : Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY** : The information seems to be as accurate as myths can be.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY** : The article is easy to understand and would be easy for middle school students to follow.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION** : Easy to navigate. There aren't any references or additional links with information about the moon.

**OVERVIEW**: This article references a study done by a team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who created a topical model of the moon and sealed all of the craters in order to determine what the shape of the moon was billions of years ago.
 * HuffingtonPost.com **
 * [|Is the moon shaped like a lemon?]**
 * AUTHOR:** Sara Gates
 * LAST UPDATE** : July 31, 2014
 * DATE REVIEWED** : May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED BY** : Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY** : The information seems to be accurate; however, I am unable to confirm.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY** : The explanation is easy to understand and would be easy for middle school students to follow.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION** : There are a few links at the bottom of the article for more information on how the moon was formed as well as how it was shaped.




 * John Miranda**
 * Spring 2014**


 * How Big is the Moon (youtube)**
 * How big is the moon?**
 * AUTHOR:** Unknown (Youtube video)
 * LAST UPDATE:** May 5, 2014
 * OVERVIEW:** This video shows you some basic information on how big the moon is when compared to planets and Mt. Everest. It also describes the distance to planets in our solar system as well as the International Space Station. Since it is hard to visualize the distance, the video gives a demonstration by showing you how long it would take a car, plane and a space shuttle to reach it.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 11, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems to be accurate and up to date. I didn't not find any facts that contradict information from texts.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: the explanation is very easy to follow and keeps the person watching engaged with the basic graphics.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: N/A

The dates are hyperlinked to web pages that have more in depth statistics and graphs regarding the various eclipses.
 * NASA Eclipse Website**
 * [|Eclipses Calender]**
 * AUTHOR:** NASA (Responsible NASA Official: Alex Young)
 * LAST UPDATE:** August 27, 2016
 * OVERVIEW:** This website is a calendar that is maintained by NASA. It catalogs the dates of: eclipses of the sun, eclipses of the moon and planetary transits across the sun beginning in 951 as well as a schedule for solar and lunar eclipses for the next hundred years.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 11, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems to be accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: There are many hyperlinks to additional information pages that are explained well and easy to follow
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: Not too difficult to navigate. There are many links to additional information.

Impact Theory
 * Space.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Katia Moskovich
 * LAST UPDATE:** October 1, 2013
 * OVERVIEW:** The link above provides information about the Impact Theory, the acceptable theory on how the moon was formed around 4.5 billion years ago. It gives background on Earth's atmosphere and suggests that there is evidence that the moon is actually made of up particles from our planet. There is also mention that there are clues as to the stages of growth due to the multiple impacts that formed the moon.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 11, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: High school/adult reading level. There are many references to quotes from researchers and explanations from the author for any descriptions that would not easily be known by the reader.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are recommendations at the bottom of the article for more pages and videos within Space.com about the moon.




 * Edited by Roxanne W.**
 * Fall of 2011**

[|Lunar Eclipses for Beginners]
 * Mreclipse.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Fred Espenak
 * LAST UPDATE:** September 22, 2014
 * OVERVIEW:** Mr Eclipse is a good website for learning about eclipses, both types of which involve the moon. There are also date/times of the eclipses and their lengths. It is fairly straightforward and easy to read.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 14, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: High school/adult reading level. There are photos to show what the moon looks like in each eclipse as well as links to view an additional photo gallery.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are recommendations at the bottom of the article for more pages and videos within Mreclipse.com about lunar eclipses.

[|A List or Craters and Mare of the Moon]
 * orval.org**
 * AUTHOR:** Observatorio ARVAL
 * LAST UPDATE:** June 17, 2014
 * OVERVIEW:** This webpage is just a notated picture of the side of the moon that faces us. It is helpful in naming mare and craters when observing the moon. It is literally just a list and a picture so it is very easy to understand.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 14, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: Easy to follow; each mare and crater are numbered and they name is listed below the picture. Each named has a link that gives you specific details on longitude and latitude, etc.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are recommendations at the bottom of the website that are outside of orval.org

[|The Lunar Landscape]
 * synapses.co.uk**
 * AUTHOR:** Dr. Jamie Love
 * LAST UPDATE:** Unknown
 * OVERVIEW:** This is a preview of an online textbook for a course in Astronomy. This page explains what we can see through a telescope along with other facts and information. There are some joke, yet still serious, which makes it fun to read.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 14, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: Easy to follow and the attempt to include comedy makes it interesting to read. Middle school and up will not have any issues deciphering the content.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: Nothing to really navigate; it is one large page of information about the moon.

[|NASA - The Far Side of The Moon]
 * NASA.gov**
 * AUTHOR:** Robert Garner, NASA
 * LAST UPDATE:** March 16, 2011 (no longer being updated)
 * OVERVIEW:** This is the NASA page on the far side of the Moon. People tend to focus on the side that we always see, but the far side can be quite interesting as well.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 14, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: The information is very technical yet not too hard to follow. Most appropriate for high school/adult reviewing.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are a few links that are broken, but page is easy to follow. Provides links to NASA's home page as well as many links for additional photos of the dark side of the moon.

[|The Moon's Poles]
 * [site should be removed - I was sent to a privacy/security alert page every time I tried to access this site]**


 * Edited by Marie C.**
 * Fall of 2011**

[|Moon lectures]
 * www.lpi.usra.edu**
 * AUTHOR:** Lunar and Planetary Institute
 * LAST UPDATE:** Unknown
 * OVERVIEW:** Moon 101 Lecture Series. This is a web site is a catalog of lectures produced by NASA. Each of the 11 lectures are videos but can also be viewed as text slides by clicking on a link at the top of the webpage. Additionally, each notation of a lecture gives a brief overview of what to expect.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 14, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: Each video is roughly an hour. As the information has come directly from NASA, I think it is safe to assume it is extremely accurate.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: The videos are very informative and easy to follow.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are links from the LPI homepage that lead you to additional resources as well as more information about the moon.

[|The Moon Nine Planets]
 * NinePlanets.org**
 * AUTHOR:** Unknown
 * LAST UPDATE:** 2018
 * OVERVIEW:** This site has many facts about the moon. It covers facts about the history of the moon, it's orbit, craters, surface features and information regarding samples that have been taken and observed.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: There is a lot of information packed into the one page. Within the paragraphs are links to additional pages. Some of the information is technical but easy to follow.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are a ton of references at the bottom of the page that link to additional pages within the nineplanets.org site.

[|Zoom Astronomy]
 * EnchantedLearning.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Unknown
 * LAST UPDATE:** 2018
 * OVERVIEW:** This is teaching web site that you can join if you wan (but not necessary to view most of the information within the site). It also has moon pages that are easy to understand and very informative. It contains general facts about the moon like temperature, orbit track, distance from Earth and other planets, etc. There are links to additional pages that give information about phases, tides, eclipses, craters and general descriptions of the moon.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: There is a lot of information packed into this site and is very easy to follow. The site notes that the estimated grade level for the moon page is 3rd and 4th graders.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: This site also has links for information about many other astronomy topics, all within their site.

[|Moon information]
 * SolarSystems.Nasa.gov**
 * AUTHOR:** Unknown
 * LAST UPDATE:** 2018
 * OVERVIEW:** NASA website; interactive photo of the moon that you can use your mouse to move it to different views. It is marked with all the Apollo missions that actually landed on the moon and when you click on the names, it opens a side panel and gives you a picture taken from on the moon as well as information about that mission. It also notes where some of the major craters are located and have the same feature as the Apollo missions.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: This is a fun website. You can see all sides of the moon. It is easy to read and follow and would be easily enjoyed by elementary students to adults.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: This site links back to Nasa's main website. There is a link that gives information on moons for other planets as well.




 * Edited by: Stefanie V.**
 * Spring 2011**

[|Daily Moon Positions]
 * Dailymoonpositions.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Unknown
 * LAST UPDATE:** 2018
 * OVERVIEW:** This website gives the opportunity to see the moons position every single day. It allows you to choose where you are located and it provides details like the moon's altitude and brightness. This website is easy to navigate and to understand.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: This is a fun website. Intended for all audiences.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: Easy to use; however, it's more of a tool and there aren't any links to additional resources.

[|Moon Discoveries]
 * NBCnews.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Space.com
 * LAST UPDATE:** July 20, 2004
 * OVERVIEW:** This article provides information about the "Top 10 Apollo era moon discoveries" which includes its history, its similarities with our planet Earth, how the rocks on the moon originated and much more.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: This webpage gives fun facts. The information is plenty, and it is very straight forward. Intended for all audiences.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are a few links at the bottom of the page that lead you to other sites about astronomy.

[|Elements on the Moon]
 * ChemistryWorld.com**
 * AUTHOR:** James Urquhart
 * LAST UPDATE:** July 21, 2010
 * OVERVIEW:** This webpage is very interesting, it mentions an element found on the moon that is also found on Earth. This element that was discovered brings other questions to the table. Now people are skeptical about where our moon came from. If the origin of the moon is of interest to you, this is a website you might enjoy looking over.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: The article is very easy to understand and can easily be followed by middle-school students.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: The article is easy to follow. There are references as to where the information was obtained, but no links to additional websites.

[|Future Lunar Missions]
 * www.lpi.usra.edu**
 * AUTHOR:** Unknown
 * LAST UPDATE:** Unknown
 * OVERVIEW:** If you are interested in being updated with the missions that are planned to go to the moon, this is a website that would help. This website provides information on when other countries as well as the United States plan on having missions to explore the moon. It also provides some insight on future plans, like settling on the moon as well as the instruments that were or are being used for exploration.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: The website has a ton of information and seems a bit overwhelming. Intended for all audiences.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: The website is easy to navigate. There are links to additional pages within the Lunar and Planetary Institute about the moon and other astronomy pages.

[|Red Moon]
 * Universetoday.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Matt Williams
 * LAST UPDATE:** December 23, 2015
 * OVERVIEW:** Have you ever wondered why the moon can look extraordinarily big and bright red? Well, this website can help explain why, it provides three reasons why the moon can sometimes look this way.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: This article is straight forward and very easy to read. Intended for all audiences.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are a few links within the article to additional information about the moon.




 * Edited by: Rose N.**
 * Fall 2010**

__[|Moon Facts]__
 * Moonconnection.com**
 * AUTHOR:** credit to David Rose (for some of the topics covered); other topics' authors are unknown.
 * LAST UPDATE:** Unknown
 * OVERVIEW:** This website gives interesting facts about the moon and also many other popular topics like information on all Apollo missions, moon names, astrological moon sign, moon cycle, explanation of tides and moon diet. It even gives tips when photographing at night.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: It is very easy to read and understand. I would say the reading complexity is suitable for elementary-college readers.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are many links with moon topics on the left side of the webpage. You can also find links to pages that are selling merchandise (i.e. posters and photos)

[|Blue Moon Info]
 * infoplease.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Borgna Brunner and Anne Marie Imbornoni
 * LAST UPDATE:** Unknown
 * OVERVIEW:** This website gives information on Blue moons. It gives a definition of a blue moon. It tells how often one happens and the myths of blue moons.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: It is very easy to read and understand. Acceptable reading for middle-school and above.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There are many links within the article as well as related links and resources that take you to additional pages within infoplease.com

[|Water on the moon]
 * abcnews.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Ned Potter
 * LAST UPDATE:** September 24, 2009
 * OVERVIEW:** This article explains how they found water on the moon and what space probes were used that actually discovered it.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: It is very easy to read and understand. Acceptable reading for high school to adults
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There weren't any additional links to webpages about the moon; however, there are additional articles that continue directly after this one (on the same page).


 * Edited by: Stacey K**
 * November 2009**

[|Moon Landings]
 * Google.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Google/NASA
 * LAST UPDATE:** Unknown
 * OVERVIEW:** This is a Google map of the moon. It shows you some features of the moon as well as where moon landings have occurred. When you click on the little markers (which are little astronauts), it gives you details about the mission. You also have the ability to see a 3D version of the moon.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: It is very easy to navigate and can be used by all audiences.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: There weren't any additional links to webpages about the moon.

[|Moon Landing Footage on YouTube]
 * Youtube.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Unknown (Youtube video)
 * LAST UPDATE:** published on youtube on February 10, 2006
 * OVERVIEW:** First moon landing of 1969 video.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: N/A unsure where the video originated from.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: N/A
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: N/A

[|The Moon]
 * Moonlightsys.com**
 * AUTHOR:** Cheryl Robertson
 * LAST UPDATE:** Unknown
 * OVERVIEW:** This website has lots of information about the moon and its history. At first it describes the moon a little and discusses the phases and rotation cycle. As you scroll down there is a navigation bar that takes you other information including the moon in ancient history and modern history as well as its religious elements.
 * DATE REVIEWED**: May 15, 2018
 * REVIEWED/EDITED BY**: Melissa Hoge
 * ACCURACY**: The information seems accurate and up to date.
 * READABILITY and CLARITY**: It is very easy to navigate and can be used by all audiences.
 * EASE OF NAVIGATION**: Many additional links about the moon that take you to pages within the site.