The Moon in Fact and Fancy - Book Notes

Somehow the book The Moon in Fact and Fancy by Alfred Slote got on my list of books that I wanted to read...or maybe it was a book I wanted the girls to read. At any rate, this book was published in 1967 and is a combination of science and folklore stories. The chapters alternate - with one being focused on science and the next on folklore and then going back to science. It's a nice change of pace.

The folktales are from Africa, Burma, the Philippines, South America, Scandinavia, India, and the South Pacific. Each one has a different focus, such as the origin and phases of the moon; tides; and the eclipses of the moon.

The chapters on science focus on the same topics as the folktales, but provides the scientific information - rather than a fictional story.

There were some interesting facts in the book that I learned:

- the trip of the moon around the earth always takes about four weeks.

- While the moon always takes about four weeks for its trip around the earth, it moves at different speeds during its trip. This is because the moon, as well as the planets, moves in an elliptical orbit. In this orbit the moon moves faster when it is closer to earth, and slows down as it moves away from earth. This increase and decrease in speed is caused by an increase and decrease of the earth's gravitational attraction.

- A total eclipse of the moon can last as long as four hours, and at least half the world may see it at the same time. 

Hold a quarter out at varying distances while looking 

at a person or object across the room. 

Depending on the distance, 

the object will be blocked (just like an eclipse). 

This was part of the unit study on the moon, 

solar system, and space 

(after reading the Magic Treehouse book called "Midnight on the Moon").

- Solar eclipses...occur at least twice a year and sometimes as often as five times a year. A total solar eclipse is not often seen by many people. New York City, for example, had a total solar eclipse in 1925 and is not due for another one until 2144.

Olivia taking photos of the eclipse of the sun.

I was surprised that this photo of the eclipse of the sun turned out.

- There is no atmosphere to hold the traces of previous warmth or cold and make changes gradual. In the height of the lunar day the moon explorer may see his space suit thermometer shoot up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit - perhaps even 300 degrees - far above the boiling point of water! Two weeks later, for the lunar day is two weeks long, the lunar night will switch on and the moon explorer's thermometer will plunge sharply to 240 degrees below zero.

- Craters are almost everywhere, from an inch in diameter on up. Scientists now believe there are millions of craters on the moon, ranging in size from about 180 miles across down to an inch or so across.

- Young craters are more circular than old craters.

- The Straight Wall is a fracture in the lunar crust. It looks like a huge step in a staircase with no other steps below or above. It is about 70 miles long and a thousand feet high.