The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 - Earth.com

The 50th anniversary of Apollo 11

07-03-2019


Today’s Video of the Day from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing with some interesting lunar facts.

The Moon, which is about a quarter of a million miles away from the Earth, does not emit its own light but simply reflects light from the Sun. Its surface is mostly gray like old asphalt.

The dark parts of the Moon, known as “mare,” are actually volcanic basins that were created in the aftermath of impacts billions of years ago. After these violent disturbances, the craters filled with lava that eventually cooled off and formed smooth, dark plains.

By Chrissy Sexton. Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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