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Fascinating facts about the moon

News
06 December 2022
The moon has always fascinated humans.
moon

In preparation for your Sunday night movie Moonfall, we are taking a trip to the moon to uncover some fascinating facts. Grab your spacesuit and get ready for take-off!

How the moon came into being

There are various theories about how the moon came into being. The widely accepted theory is that it came into existence 4.5 billion years ago when a Mars-sized rock called Theia slammed into the Earth, and the debris from the collision clumped together.

Moonquake underway

Just like the Earth, the Moon has its quakes. Studies of the moon that were conducted between 1969 and 1972 by Apollo astronauts showed that moonquakes ranged from shallow to very deep rumbling.

No sun, no moonlight

Did you know that the Moon doesn't produce light? Moonlight is sunlight that shines on the moon and then bounces off.

Strange artefacts left on the moon

From the Apollo 17 US flag planted by Gene Cernan to bodily waste, the Moon is home to more than just dust.

Far, far, and away!

Even though the moon may seem close to the earth, NASA  has noted that at its closest, it is the distance of 28 to 29 Earth-sized planets away, and at its farthest, it's nearly 32 Earth-sized planets away.

Extreme temperatures

The temperatures on the moon are extreme. When lit by the sun, the moon's surface can reach up to 127°C. When the lit side moves into darkness, the temperature falls significantly. The moon's surface can drop to -232°C.

Find out what happens when a mysterious force knocks the moon from its orbit, in Moonfall.

Catch Moonfall this Sunday at 20:05 CAT on M-Net 101 or after the movie with catch up on DStv. You can find us on @mnetmovies on Twitter, @MNet on Facebook, @mnet on TikTok, and @mnettv on Instagram.