Our Moon is unlike any other in the solar system, and the story of its' birth is truly extraordinary. This episode, we'll weigh the evidence for various Moon origin stories alongside Neil Armstrong, George Darwin, and more recent scientists. In the end, truth is stranger than fiction.

Extra credit: Take some time for yourself and have a good long look at the moon.

The Earth of 4.5 billion years ago was perhaps the most alien version of our world, thanks to a collision with a rogue planet. Days and nights were six times shorter, the newborn Moon was as close as a weather satellite, and everything was covered with a sea of magma. Today, we learn how the Moon transformed from a giant Eye of Sauron into our pale nighttime companion.

Extra credit: Squeeze a stress ball, eat only one color of candy, and try to solve this week's hidden word puzzle.

When did the Moon's craters form? Can they tell us any stories about the ancient Solar System?

Today, we'll learn some early explanations for lunar features, meet a "lunatic asylum" of planetary geologists, and learn how the larger planets might have bullied their smaller neighbors.

Extra Credit: Watch Apollo 13, or The Right Stuff.

How did the Man in the Moon form? What does the Moon's Far Side look like?

Today, we'll learn about the most visible remnant of the ancient world- the pattern of dark lunar rocks that stares down on us each night. On the way, we'll hitch a ride with a flying fax machine, play a game with crystals in magma, and learn why bananas are slightly radioactive (and why that doesn't really matter).

Extra Credit: Try to send me a fax, or just eat a banana.