NASA Moon Tweets by Moon Experts

What are all those holes on the moon & how did they get there? #cool

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-03 15:52:07 UTC

The "holes" are called craters and are actually dents. The formed between 3,000-4,000 millions years ago, when meteorites and asteroids hit the surface because the moon has no atmosphere to protect it.

How does an eclipse occur? How often do they occur? When is the next one? #wishihadseenthis #jealous

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-03 15:56:40 UTC

Solar eclipses occur at New Moon, when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun. Lunar eclipses occur at Full Moon, when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. Eclipses do not take place every month because the orbits of the Moon and Earth are are tilted at an angle. The cycle of eclipses repeats every 18.6 years. April 4, 2015 is a total lunar eclipse.

What are the umbra and penumbra of an eclipse? #noclue #scienceRULES

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-03 16:02:23 UTC

Umbras and penumbras are a part of solar and lunar eclipses. The umbra is an area where light from the sun is completely blocked. The penumbra is an area where light from the sun is partially blocked.

Shouldn't we get eclipses every month? Why don't we? #huh

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-03 16:06:23 UTC

The moon does not move in a full ellipse, so if the New/Full Moon is not in the elliptic path, the shadow will not strike the moon/earth.So the moon is always a bit lower and higher than the sun.

Why do we only see one side of the Moon? #darkside

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-03 16:10:39 UTC

We only see one side of the Moon because the Earth and the Moon are rotating at the same time, so we always see the same side of the Moon.

Which Moon Phase is that above? #crescent

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-03 16:12:48 UTC

Waxing Crescent, it is waxing or growing from new moon to full, and only a small sliver of the moon is illuminated by the sun.

How do moon phases work? Why does the moon always look different? #somanyquestionssolittletime

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-03 16:14:35 UTC

Moon phases are NOT caused by the Earth's shadow. The moon is orbiting the Earth, and its different positions and different angle at which the sun illuminates the moon cause different appearances/phases.

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:07:56 UTC

Where are the E, M, and S during each moon phase?#somanyquestionssolittletime

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:10:28 UTC

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:14:32 UTC

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:16:29 UTC

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:18:58 UTC

Helpful Link

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:25:02 UTC

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:26:53 UTC

Video

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:29:55 UTC

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:42:27 UTC

willowbranch4 — 2015-04-07 15:47:08 UTC