Full Moon Fever

With the approaching full moon this weekend, I decided to post fun facts about the moon. The full moon falls on Monday, September 15th.

--The full moon is a lunar phase occurring when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun and all three bodies are aligned in a straight line.

--By measuring the ages of lunar rocks, we know that the moon is about 4.6 billion years old, or about the same age as Earth.

--The surface gravity of the moon is only one-sixth that of the Earth.

--The moon orbits the Earth at an average speed of 2,300 miles an hour.

--The moon's gravitational pull on the Earth is the main cause of the rise and fall of ocean tides.

--To the unaided eye, the bright lunar highlands and the dark maria (Latin for "seas") make up the "man in the moon." (I've always thought the man in the moon looked like Santa Claus; my hubby thinks it looks like the symbol of Jackie Gleason's The Honeymooners.)

--A "Blue Moon" is the 2nd full moon that occurs during the same month. The next blue moon will be in December 2009.

--According to a study at the Bradford Royal Infirmary, the chances of being bitten by a dog are twice as high during a full moon.

--The full moon occurs every 29.5 days.

--The only month that can occur without a full moon is February.

--The honeymoon is named after the full moon in June. As it fell between the planting and harvesting of crops this was traditionally the best month to get married.

--Contrary to popular belief, no cheese has ever been found on the moon.