In LatinAmerican Post we bring you some curious facts about the moon that you probably did not know

The moon, the only place beyond Earth that man has stepped, is surrounded by myths and details that we did not know. Here you can find some of the most curious facts about the moon, according to National Geographic and the newspaper Muy Interesante .

Leer en español: ¿Sabías que…? 7 datos curiosos sobre la luna que te sorprenderán

1. The moon is 400 times smaller than the sun. However, as it is 400 times closer to Earth, the human eye sees both bodies of the same size. The size of the moon corresponds to 27% of the size of the Earth, it is much less massive and its gravity is equivalent to 1/6 of the gravity of our planet. That is why you constantly hear that if you weigh 68 kilograms on Earth, on the moon you would be quite light.

2. The moon does not drive us crazy. In fact, a team of researchers from Université Laval in Quebec, Canada, was in charge of examining the relationship between the lunar phases and the number of patients who come to the emergency room with psychological problems. The objective was to determine if the moon produces physiological changes in the human being that lead to a state of madness.

They investigated panic attacks, anxiety and mood disorders or suicidal thoughts, contrasting them with lunar calendars. Finally they realized that the myth has no scientific bases.

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3. The moon is not round, according to some observers. This satellite has an oval shape, because the center of the mass is not in the geometric center, but rather two kilometers off the axis. It can fool the human eye by making itself look round.

4. There is high or low tide due to the moon or the sun. Given the high gravitational force of the moon, when it is above the oceans it modifies the tide. This information has served humans for thousands of years to know when to enter the seas.

5. On the earth there are "trees of the moon". In 1971, Stuart Roosa, astronaut of Apollo 14, collected more than 400 seeds that, when returned to the earth, germinated. These were planted in various locations throughout the United States as part of the celebrations for the Bicentennial of the Independence of the country. The seeds were provided by the Forest Service, and the trip to the moon did not cause any change in the seeds.

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6. And the craters? When we were little we thought that the moon was like a cheese for all the craters that formed its surface. Now, scientists suggest that the moon was subdued by a gigantic diversity of meteorites more than 4 million years ago.

7. Finally, the average composition of the lunar surface is: approximately 43% oxygen, 20% silicon, 19% magnesium, 10% iron, 3% calcium, 3% aluminum, 0.42% chromium , 0.18% titanium and 0.12% manganese.

LatinAmerican Post | Luisa Fernanda Báez

Translated from "¿Sabías que…? 7 datos curiosos sobre la luna que te sorprenderán"

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