To the Moon and Back chapter sampler

To the Moon and Back

T h e F i r s t Ma n i n Sp a c e

Slowly he and his seat — still strapped together — drifted down to Earth, his parachute above him, the green and brown farmland getting closer and closer. He landed by a potato patch, where a girl was digging potatoes with her grandmother. They were frightened at first of the strange figure in orange overalls. But as they later said, ‘His smile was so nice we forgot we were scared!’ Slowly he and his seat — still strapped together — drifted down to Earth, his parachute above him, the green and brown farmland getting closer and closer. He landed by a potato patch, where a girl was digging potatoes with her grandmother. They were frightened at first of the strange figure in orange overalls. But as they later said, ‘His smile was so nice we forgot we were scared!’

WHY DOES THE MOON LOOK BIGGER ON THE HORIZON THAN WHEN IT’S HIGH IN THE SKY? WHY DOES THE MOON LOOK BIGGER ON THE HORIZON THAN WHEN IT’S HIGH IN THE SKY?

When the Moon is on the horizon you see it next to landscapes like mountains and buildings and, in comparison to them, the Moon is enormous. However up in the sky it is floating in blackness, with nothing to compare it with — so it looks smaller. And when the Moon is on the horizon its light is bent over a greater When the Moon is on the horizon you see it next to landscapes like mountains and buildings and, in comparison to them, the Moon is enormous. However, up in the sky it is floating in blackness, with nothing to compare it with — so it looks smaller. And when the Moon is on the horizon its light is

range of angles than when it’s up above us, making the Moon look bigger. But the Moon still looks bigger than it should be — and no one knows why! bent over a greater range of angles than when it’s up above us, making the Moon look bigger. But the Moon still looks bigger than it should be — and no one knows why!

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