Exploring the

Awesome facts about our lunar neighbor

Basic Information

The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite. It turns in a synchronos rotation with Earth, always showing the same face with its near side. The Moon is currently the brightest object in Earth’s sky after the Sun, and while the surface of the Moon is very dark it composed of reflective materials which cause it to appear bright.

Image of the moon at night
Waxing gibbous Moon. By Dave Young
Image of the moon at night
Full Moon. By myyorgda
Image of the moon at night
Half Moon. By lrargerich

History

The Moon is believed to have been formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago, not long after Earth. There are server hypotheses for the origin, but it is widely accepted that the Moon formed from debris left over after a giant impact between earth and a Mars-sized celestial object.

Image of the moon at night
Half Moon. By alana sise

Random Facts

  • Distance to Earth: 238,900 miles
  • Gravity: 1.622 m/s2
  • Orbital period: 27 days
  • Age: 4.527 billion years
  • Orbits: Earth