The Moon, Earth’s natural satellite, may look like a lifeless cold rock, but how cold and what is the temperature on the surface of the Moon?
In reality, the moon is not that cold, at least not all the time. Like Earth, the Moon’s surface temperature depends on whether or not sunlight hits it. In particular, these fluctuations in temperature can be quite dramatic, it has been reported. Live Science.
John Monier, a professor of astronomy at the University of Michigan, said that temperatures go from very hot to very cold. Live Science.
He said the moon’s temperature can range from about -148 degrees Fahrenheit to 212 degrees F (-100 degrees Celsius to over 100 degrees C).
Unlike the Moon, Earth’s average temperature is 59°F (15°C), but it ranges from about -129°F to 134°F (-89°C to 57°C), according to NASA.
Additionally, Earth also has vast oceans, which absorb and store energy from the sun and slowly release it at night.
However, the rocky moon, in contrast, bakes or cools in light and shadow. Additionally, a lunar day-night cycle is closer to that of Earth’s moon, so its surface is exposed to light and darkness for longer periods of time.