To accompany ‘The moon has new tales to share, some from its secretive far side’  

SCIENCE

Before Reading:

1. People all over the world see the same side of the moon when they look to the night sky. Western cultures describe seeing a man on the moon. Eastern folklore describes the shapes on the moon’s surface as looking like a rabbit sitting next to a pot. (This phenomenon of seeing shapes or patterns where none really exist is called pareidolia.) Do an internet search to learn about different cultures’ interpretations of the moon’s surface. Sketch a picture to illustrate one of these interpretations. Then, briefly explain the origin of this particular interpretation of the shapes we all see on the moon’s surface.
2. If you could have one question about the moon answered, what would it be? Briefly explain your choice.

During Reading:

1. How many billions of years ago did the gas and dust that would become our solar system’s planets begin clumping together? When did this process slow down?
2. Describe the evidence that suggests the moon originated from space rocks colliding with the Earth.
3. Give one example of a force or agent of change that constantly alters the Earth’s surface. To what extent does this same force alter the moon’s surface?
4. Why do scientists believe they can learn about Earth’s history by studying the moon?
5. What do scientists believe to be the cause of the dark-colored patches on the near side of the moon?
6. What is notable about the lunar samples brought back in June by the Chang’e-6 spacecraft?
7. How does the age of the South Pole-Aitken Basin compare with other lunar features?
8. Describe how scientists’ understanding of the moon’s geological history has changed over the last few years. What is one piece of evidence that has helped drive this change?
9. Describe the location where India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission landed in 2023.
10. How many astronauts had walked on the moon at the time of this story’s publication? How many missions did they represent?

After Reading:

1. Besides Earth’s history, how might studying lunar samples help scientists learn about something in our cosmos? Explain why lunar samples might prove more valuable than Earth samples for this analysis.
2. Based on what you’ve read in this story, describe how the near side of the moon might have looked different a billion years ago compared to today. To what extent do you predict the moon’s surface will change over the next billion years? Explain your prediction using something you learned from reading this story.