Final answer:
The temperature on the Moon differs between night and day due to the absence of atmosphere and the low surface gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The temperature on the Moon differs so much between night and day mainly due to the absence of atmosphere and the low surface gravity.
Without an atmosphere, the lunar surface experiences greater temperature extremes compared to Earth. Near local noon, the temperature of the dark lunar soil rises above the boiling point of water. During the long lunar night, the temperature drops to about 100 K (-173 °C). The absence of air and the porous nature of the Moon's dusty soil contribute to the extreme cooling.