Moon

This natural satellite related article is a stub. You can help Orbiterwiki by expanding it. Moon Moon in Orbiter 2016 with D3D9 Designation Name Moon Reference body Earth Physical parameters* Mass 7.348×1022 kg Mean Radius 1.738×106 m Gravitational moments n/a Siderial day 2.361×106 s Orbital period 2.324×106 s (26.898 days) Obliquity of ecliptic 1.54° SOI radius 2.355×107 m Atmosphere No Osculating elements (ecliptic frame)* Semi-major axis 3.8074×108 m Eccentricity 0.069266 Inclination 5.06° Note *Elements given are from Orbiter 2016 The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. Its diameter is about one-quarter that of the earth. It is the largest natural satellite as compared to its primary in the solar system and the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system. It is the only natural body outside of earth that has been visited by humans, the Apollo program from 1969 to 1972. Characteristics The moon is slightly ellipsoid about 1738 km in radius. The radius of the moon is about a quarter that of the Earth. From the earth's surface the moon's apparent diameter is about half a degree. The gravity on the moon is 1.625 m/s<sup2, about one-sixth of the Earth's gravity, therefore, an object on the moon's surface will weigh about one-sixth as it does on the earth. The surface of the moon consists of rock and dusty regolith, and is comprised of maria, craters, mountains, rifts, and scarps. Surface temperatures range from -171°C (-276°F) during the lunar night to 140°C (284°F) during the lunar day, the surface receives a high amount of ionizing radiation from the sun as well as cosmic radiation. The orbit of the moon is inclined to the ecliptic at about 5°, the only natural satellite in the solar system to do so, the others are inclined to the primary's equator). The moon's rotational axis tilted from the ecliptic about 1.5°. The semi-major axis is about 380000 km. Due to tidal dissipation, the orbit of the moon is slowly increasing at approximately 3.8 cm per year. As the moon is tidally locked to the earth, the same side always faces the earth, except some variation due to libration, from the earth, we are able to see about 59% of the moon's surface over time. The apparent diameter of the moon from the earth's surface is about one-half degree, about the same as that of the sun, so, during solar eclipses, the moon may pass slightly north or south of the center of the sun creating a partial eclipse, or pass close to apoapsis creating an annular eclipse, or covering the entire sun, creating a total eclipse. The sidereal day on the moon is about 27.33 earth days. The moon has a very tenuous atmosphere, but, none is modeled in Orbiter. Moon in Orbiter The Moon has been a part of Orbiter since the earliest version in 2001, it's orbit defined in the Moon.cfg file. Beginning in Orbiter 2002, its orbit has been defined by the Vsop87.dll file. The stock orbiter has a base, Brighton Beach, located at 33.4375° W, 41.125° N consisting of six landing pads and a number of structures. There are also makers indicating the location of traces of human activity on the moon. Orbiter versions and add-ons which include the Moon as a body. Orbiter versions and add-ons which include the Moon Add-on Source Version Author Type Release Date Compatibility Wiki article Orbiter 2006-P1 O-F Resources 060929 martins Orbiter Download 29 September 2006 Orbiter 2006-P1 Orbiter 2006 O-F Resources 060504 martins Orbiter Download 4 May 2006 Orbiter 2006 2005 (with P1 patch files) O-F Resources 050216 martins Orbiter Download 16 February 2005 Orbiter 2005 Orbiter 2003-P2 O-F Resources 031217 martins Orbiter Download 17 December 2003 Orbiter 2003-P2 Orbiter 2003-P1 O-F Resources 031105 martins Orbiter Download 5 November 2003 Orbiter 2002 O-F Resources 020419 martins Orbiter Download 19 April 2002 Orbiter 2002 Orbiter 2001 O-F Resources 010503 martins Orbiter Download 3 May 2001 Orbiter 2001 See also Moon in Wikipedia. Category: Add-ons for Moon the Moon in Orbiter 2001 the Moon in Orbiter 2002 Moon in Orbiter 2002P3 Moon in Orbiter 2003P2 Moon in Orbiter 2005P1 Moon in Orbiter 2006P1 Libration and phases of the Moon, October 2007 The Solar System Central star Sun (Sol) Planets Mercury - Venus - Earth - Mars - Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus - Neptune Natural satellites Moon - Phobos - Deimos - Io - Europa - Ganymede - Titan - more... Add-ons Planets - Dwarf Planets - Small objects - Natural satellites - Alternative star systems