On September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave an address at Rice University commonly referenced as his “Why We Go to The Moon” speech. During the speech, JFK spoke these famous lines:
“We choose to go to the Moon. We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we’re willing to accept.”
We continue to choose to go to the Moon now, not to repeat history, but to build from the knowledge we gained decades before. We choose to go back to the Moon to expand our exploration efforts in space.
And you can choose to bring the Moon to you with our MOVA Moon Globe (pictured above). Our Moon globe is a hand-held reminder of the beauty, mystery, and history that our universe holds.
WHICH CAME FIRST, THE EARTH OR THE MOON?
Until recently, it was generally assumed that the Earth and the Moon were similar in age, with some theories noting that the Moon formed before the Earth. However, in 2020, researchers from the German Aerospace Center conducted modeling to simulate how long it took for the Moon to form and found the moon to be about 85 million years younger than past estimates.
The question of how the moon formed—a result of a collision between the Earth and a Mars-sized object known as Theia—is not in question. But for years scientists debated when the collision took place. Due to modern science, we now know and can thank that collision for creating the perfect atmosphere and setting for our home planet, the blue marble, we call Earth.
THE PULL OF THE MOON
It is undeniable that the Moon plays a large role in our everyday lives, from creating ocean and continental tides to keeping our axis aligned, but the Moon also plays a role in our history and sense of wonder and exploration.
We have countless songs and stories from past to present about the Moon. We are collectively mesmerized with our nearest neighbor, the Moon.
But the power and pull of moons goes beyond our Moon. Charon has such a strong hold on its dwarf planet, that Pluto wobbles and the two become known as a double planet system. Mars has two moons, and the pull of Mars on Phobos is so strong, scientists have begun to wonder if Phobos will break apart from the force.
THE MANY MAJESTIC MOONS OF SATURN 
Saturn is known for its rings, but it also has 83 moons that range in size from a sports arena to the second largest moon in our solar system, Titan. The moon Titan is larger than Mercury, is the only moon to have an atmosphere and a “water system” driven by liquid hydrocarbons of methane and similar gases. Like the Titans of Greek Mythology, the moon is a majestic and powerful body in space. Its frigid temperatures have created an ice crust on the planet that lead to the beautiful blue, green, and gold hues of the moon seen in satellite images (and on the MOVA Titan Globe pictured above).
Another icy moon of Saturn is Enceladus. As Saturn’s sixth largest moon it does not reign over Saturn, but the planet and the moon are tidally locked in a retrograde orbit. Enceladus is a truly unique moon. It is covered iwith ice and snow and is known as the most reflective surface in the solar system. This moon also has its own ring, formed by the constant hydrothermal explosions of ice particles from within Enceladus that are projected out into space at a rate of about 800 miles per hour. Our MOVA Enceladus Globe is a striking mix of blues, reds, and pinks and is how the moon appears as seen through infrared light (pictured below).
FUN FACTS ABOUT MOONS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM
- Our solar system is home to 200 moons.
- The largest moon orbits Jupiter and is named Ganymede (it is 2% bigger than Titan).
- Galileo’s drawings of Jupiter’s moons in 1610 were verified over 400 years later following measurements and images of the moons from the Gaia Satellite.
- Our Moon is ¼ the size of Earth.
- The most volcanically active body in the solar system is Io, a moon of Jupiter.
- Mimas, a small moon that orbits Saturn, is known as the Death Star Moon, due to its large crater that was created by an impact which nearly broke apart the entire moon.
- 12 astronauts have walked on our Moon.
THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF MOONS
All moons in the solar system began in the same way—collisions—and all are held in space by one force—gravity. The moons hold the secrets of the origins of the universe and the chaos and organization that framed the following millennia.
Our Moon holds the promise of future space exploration and turns the tides. Yet, with each year, the Moon drifts a little bit further from us. About 4.45 billion years ago, the Moon was 10 times closer to the Earth, according to an article in The Atlantic.
The Moon’s drift was calculated by measurements made by lasers aimed at mirrors left on the Moon by the Apollo astronauts. We recently were able to witness a total lunar eclipse and will need to wait until 2025 for another moment of science in action in the sky. About 600 million years from now lunar eclipses will cease to occur; the moon will have drifted far enough away that it will no longer be able to block the sun’s light and cast its shadow upon us. There is no immediate need to worry, though, according to The Atlantic, the Moon will drift continually this way, “for the very scientific measure of forever.”