Moons in the Solar System (1 of 2)
Moons are interesting celestial bodies. Until recent years, they are often overlooked in favour of other astronomical objects like stars and planets. So what really is a moon? By definition, a moon is a natural satellite that orbits a planet. It is important to note that gravity plays a role in shaping a planet's moons. Too much gravity and the moon is destroyed. Too little of it and the moon floats away until is no longer a moon. In this and the next articles, we will focus on the moons in our Solar System. Let's start with the one we know best! Earth's Moon and the Giant Impact Hypothesis Several theories have been postulated on the formation of our moon. T he Apollo mission was sent to the moon in 1969 during which rock samples were secured. These moon rocks were found to be almost identical to those of Earth's crust. The catch however, is that the rocks were super heated. How could this be? The story goes that Earth was actually hit by a Mars-sized pl