Why Does Daylight on the Moon Last About Two Earth Weeks?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why does daylight on the Moon last about two Earth weeks?

The Big Idea

A day on the Moon lasts about two Earth weeks because the Moon spins very slowly! One lunar daytime is roughly 14 Earth days of sunlight, followed by about 14 days of night. A lunar day is not the same as an Earth day!

A Slow Spin

Step one: the Moon spins slowly. Earth spins once in 24 hours, but the Moon takes about 27 Earth days to spin once. That is the same time it takes to orbit Earth.

Long Daytime

Step two: a long daytime. Because the Moon turns so slowly, the Sun stays up for about 14 Earth days. The ground gets very hot, about 120 degrees Celsius.

Long Night

Step three: a long night. Then the Sun sets for another 14 days or so. The ground gets freezing cold, around minus 130 degrees Celsius.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The Sun slowly rises. The daytime lasts about 14 Earth days. Then the Sun slowly sets. And night lasts around 14 more days.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Moon daytime is about 120 degrees Celsius, hotter than boiling water. Moon night is about minus 130 degrees Celsius. A full Moon-day cycle lasts about 29 and a half Earth days. Never look at the Sun, which is dangerous on the Moon, too.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Imagine you camped on the Moon. How many Earth sleeps would one lunar afternoon last? About 14! Write down what you would do each day. Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

A Moon day is not the same as an Earth day. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!