The moon is the natural satellite of the earth, but why does it exist? What is its importance? These are questions that many ask, follow this article and we will explain the importance of this satellite and especially the movements of the moon and its relevance on planet earth.
La Luna
It is important to know, in addition to Origin and Evolution of the Earth and the effects that this has for society, the movements that it makes in its orbit and, in addition, the moon revolves around it. Which has a size of 3.476 km in length.
It is the fifth largest satellite in the universe. Unlike other planets, Earth only has one moon, which is a quarter the size of planet Earth. You can also read about the moon as a satellite.
The moon is a natural satellite of the planet; it moves in an orbit and revolves around itself. Its various movements and its proximity or distance from the planet Earth determine the time span of days, weeks, months, and even the year, and greatly influence the tides. You can also learn more about the Moon. lunation cycle.
This satellite, when observed, appears bright like the sun, however, its surface is dark and opaque, it is the only celestial body that has been visited by humans.
Its origin is still a debate, it is said that another satellite more or less the size of Mars, impacted the earth at the beginning of its appearance, leaving that fragment in the earth's orbit. However, there are many other theories.
What are the movements of the Moon?
Understanding that between the moon and the earth there is a force of gravitational attraction, the natural movements of this satellite are explained.
Similar to the planet earth, it has two original movements and they are known as rotation and translation of the moon, on its own axis and in orbit around the Earth. The two movements that characterize the moon are related to the tides and the phases of the moon. For a deeper understanding of the Earth's movements, you can consult the movements of the Earth.
During the various movements that he possesses, he applies some time to complete them.
How long does the translational movement last?
In total it takes approximately 27,32 days, this makes the moon always show the same face and makes it seem that it always remains completely still. This phenomenon is related to the lunar eclipses which also depend on their movement.
This is due to many geometric reasons and to another kind of movement that it possesses known as lunar release.
As the earth rotates around the sun, the moon revolves around the earth, in the east direction. The distance of the moon from the earth throughout its motion changes a lot.
The length that exists between the planet and the satellite is 384.400 km, this distance changes according to the moment in which it achieves its orbit. This is because the orbit is sufficiently diffuse and at various times far away, the structure of the sun It predominates quite a bit with its gravitational pull.
The nodes of the moon are not fixed and move 18,6 light years away. It causes the lunar ecliptic to not be fixed and causes the lunar perigee that occurs when the moon is in its full phase and is closest to its orbit.
Rotation and Translation of the Moon
The rotation movement made by the moon is synchronized with the translation movement.
The rotation lasts 27,32 days, while the translation takes approximately 28 days or even the same as the rotation, due to this, the same face of the moon is always observed from the earth, which gives the sensation that it is fixed and not in motion, this is what is known as a sidereal month.
While making its rotation movement, it maintains an inclination angle of 88,3° in relation to the ecliptic of translation. This is due to the great gravitational force that forms between the moon and the earth.
In its translational motion on Earth, it is tilted about 5° relative to the ecliptic. In short, it takes the same amount of time to complete one complete revolution on its axis. This motion is crucial for understanding the effects of the lunar horoscope.
This movement around the planet is what is shaping the various tides that exist today on earth. It is said that these are determined by the movements of the moon.
The moon not only performs rotation and translation movements, there is another called liberation movement. It is the rotation that the moon exerts around the sun, this movement is carried out in synchrony between the moon and the earth, it is rotating on itself and moving around the earth, while both revolve around the sun.
The earth rotates on itself every day, in an easterly direction, so it takes about an hour for the earth to be fully facing the moon every day, that is, the moon can be seen from the earth in the sky.
The movements of the moon and the earth are synchronized, so the moon must take one hour more to rise each day, that is, it is delayed.
Consequences
The movements of the moon have notable consequences on the earth, these phenomena have been given the name of sidereal or sidereal, synodic, tropic or tropical and draconic "month", here we explain each of them:
sidereal month
It is the one that is completed in 27 days, seven hours, 43 minutes and 11 seconds, it happens at the moment that the phase of the moon has formed a full circle. Known as the hour circle and is the maximum on the celestial sphere.
synodic month
It is the period that lasts to present two equal lunar phases, it tends to last 29,5 days. It is also known by the name of lunation.
They are phenomena that also depend on the movements of the moon.
Tropic month
It's the time it takes for the moon to pass through the circle of Aries twice in a row; this can last up to 27 days. The space and time in which this occurs are key to understanding the moon's movements and their significance.
Draconic Month
It is based on the time it takes from one phase of the moon to another to cross the ascending node, this lasts 27 days and 5 hours.
Anomalistic month
It is when the perigee lasts, two consecutive lunar phases take place, it lasts 27 days and 13 hours.
Lunar Libration
It is a displacement that the moon has of which we can only observe 50% of its surface or its face. There are, in turn, three kinds of lunar libration:
Release at Latitude
It is linked to the inclination that exists between the orbit of the moon and the plane of the elliptical. This produces that it is only possible to observe the North and South face of the moon.
At the flat point of the Equator of the moon it is above and below the plane of the orbit, this ensures that there is more surface to see from the opposite polar region.
Day Libration
This movement depends on the perspective where the observer is looking at the moon, that is, the position at the moment the image is captured. Different geographical methods are necessary for this.
Libration in Longitude
It is based on the fact that the rotational movement of the moon is completely flat or uniform, while the translational movement is not.
This causes the perigee to be the portion where the moon moves most rapidly and the apogee to be the slowest. For more on this topic of the moon, you can read the myths of the moon.
Something similar happens with the earth and its orbit in relation to the Sun at the time of the Swing towards the west, causing us to only be able to observe one face in the eastern and western regions of the moon.
It could be said that the lunar libration is that point that is located on the surface of the moon and is where the three kinds of liberation of the moon are present. Supposedly it causes it to move in a special way and it does not return to its original position.
