So it might surprise you to discover that, currently, there is no scientific definition of a moon.
It's possible the IAU is somewhat wary of providing a definition for a moon, given the fallout from the group's 2006 vote to define a planet , which demoted Pluto to mere dwarf-planet status. The controversial decision angered some scientists and members of the public, and it remains a sore spot to this day.
Pluto's demotion even created some cartographic headaches, Nimmo said. The system for defining Pluto's longitude was updated when the world's planetary status changed, because dwarf planets use a different coordinate system than planets. So all maps from before 2006 are essentially upside-down compared to those created after the recategorization, according to The Planetary Society .
This may worth something:
10 interesting moon facts you may not know - CNN
(CNN) Since the moon is Earth's closest celestial neighbor, we've been able to learn more about it than any other in the solar system. There are surprising details about the moon, such as how in 1958, the US proposed exploding a nuclear bomb on its surface, for clout.
A new museum in Bethel features varied treasure – from Maine to the moon - Portland Press Herald
The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum on Main Street in Bethel is set to open Dec. 12. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
A new museum boasting the five largest lunar meteorites found on Earth and likely the largest and best collection of Maine minerals and gems ever assembled will open next month in what might seem like an unlikely place – the picturesque Main Street in the tiny resort town of Bethel.
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HOW MUCH: $15, $12 for seniors and active military, $10 for students with ID, free for 12 and under
India Acknowledges Lunar Lander Crashed : NPR
An illustration of the landing craft stands behind members of the media at an Indian Space Research Organisation facility this year in Bangalore, India. Authorities initially chalked up the failed landing in September to a loss of communication with the craft; last week, they revealed what happened to it. Manjunath Kiran/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
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High hopes had been riding on its Chandrayaan-2 orbiter. The spacecraft was sending a landing vehicle down to the moon — an operation that, if successful, would be the first robotic mission at the moon's unexplored south pole and that would make India only the fourth country in history to make a moon landing.
Many things are taking place:
India reveals Chandrayaan-2 Vikram moon lander crashed - CNET
"After two successful de-orbiting maneuvers, powered descent of the lander was initiated on 7th September 2019 to achieve soft landing on the moon surface," according to the report, which NPR reported Wednesday was in response to a lawmaker's inquiry last week.
The descent's first phase took the lander from 30km to 7.4km above the surface of the moon, with velocity reduced from 1,683m/s to 146m/s. But during the second phase of descent, "the reduction in velocity was more than the designed value."
Moon, Saturn to meet in night sky conjunction on Black Friday | abc13.com
European Space Agency gets more funds, also for Moon mission - The Washington Post
MADRID — The 22 member states of the European Space agency pledged Thursday to boost their funding to support more missions and research projects, including a new generation of satellites to monitor climate change.
The agency's director-general, Jan Woerner, said at the conclusion two-day ministerial meeting in Seville, Spain, that member states pledged a record three-year budget of 12.5 billion euros ($13.7 million) plus an additional 1.9 billion euros to cover operational costs and basic research in years four and five.
This week’s king tides Florida’s new (moon) norm - News - Daytona Beach News-Journal
The East Coast is on pace to see record-breaking tides this year, and tides along the Gulf Coast also are trending higher, said a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oceanographer.
More higher-than-normal king tides arrived with the new moon this week, a final round in a fall season that flooded coastal areas and reinforced the growing impacts of a rising sea.
"It’s not normal, but unfortunately it’s becoming the new normal," said Sweet, lead author of NOAA’s annual report on high tide flooding.
Happening on Twitter
omg please. take it from somebody who actually did this coz i used to be all *money dont matter, only love does* on… https://t.co/DlXSiCsfIc bad_dominicana (from el cibao) Thu Nov 28 02:06:49 +0000 2019
@Mhormhaich @NeilMackay If the interview doesnt take place, it can only be because Boris Johnson refuses to do it.… https://t.co/AYc3zw9AWm BBCDouglasF Wed Nov 27 23:49:53 +0000 2019
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