Moon’s history
How lunar observation has shaped our understanding of solar system
The moon has been a subject of fascination for humans since the beginning of time. It's beauty and mystery have captivated people for centuries, and it's observations has played a critical role in shaping ancient cultures, rituals and the history of our own solar system. in this blog post we will explore the history of the Moon and how lunar observation has contributed to our knowledge ofits formation and the effects it has on our own planet.
A quick and dirty shot from C14 with Hyperstar lens by Umair asim
The history of the Moon
The moon is the Earth's only natural satellite, and it is the fifth-largest moon in the solar system. It is thought to have formed around 4.3 billion years ago, shortly after the formation of the solar system. Scientists believe, according to the most popular theory today, that the moon was formed when a Mars-sized object, called 'Thea' collided with the earth, and the debris from the collision eventually coalesced to form the moon.
Throughout human history, the moon has been an object of worship, mythology, and our curiosity. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Mayans all had lunar calendars. Two major religions to this day use lunar calendars. Our moon has no doubt played a crucial role in world religious and cultural practices.
In the early 17th century, Galileo Galilei used a telescope, invented by him, to observe the moon in detail for the first time in history. He discovered that the moon had mountains, valleys and craters, and his observations challenged the traditional view that the moon was a perfect, unblemished sphere.
Since then, scientists have continued to observe the moon and learn more about it's surface features, composition, geology and history. The Apollo missions from 1969 to 1972 allowed humans to explore the lunar surface firsthand and bring back samples for lab analysis on earth. That told us the chemistry and geology of the rocks and the history of the celestial object.
Lunar observations and our understanding of the solar systems
Lunar observation has played a critical role in advancing our understanding of the planetary geology and formation of the solar systems in the universe. Here are some of the ways that lunar observation and research has contributed to our knowledge.
1- Understanding the formation of solar system
Studying the moon has helped scientists better understand the formation of the solar system because essentially looking at the lunar surface gives you the opportunity to see the history of more than 4 billion years of impacts and changes on the lunar surface. By analyzing the craters' history and the composition of moon rocks and then comparing them to other planetary bodies in the solar system, including planet earth, scientists have been able to piece together the history of the early solar system.
2- Mapping the moon's surface
Lunar observations have allowed us to create detailed maps of the moon's surface, from the big and small craters to fault lines, from the huge mountain regions to the lava flows, from partially lava submerged craters to unexplained regions like 'Lunar Swirls'.This has helped us better understand the moon's geology and history of the solar system itself.
3- Studying the moon's interior
Lunar research has also allowed us to study the moon's interior by analyzing the seismic data from lunar quakes and the way moon moves in its orbit and the gravitational pull it exerts on other nearby objects. This has enabled scientists to learn more about the moon's inner structure and composition.
Conclusion
Lunar research and observations have played a critical role in advancing our understanding of the formation of the planetary bodies and solar systems in the universe. From early humans to modern scientists, curious minds have been fascinated by the moon and as technology continues to improve, we can expect to learn more about our Moon and to eventually solve its still unsolved mysteries and piece together the history of our solar system.