THE MOON
Earth's Natural Satellite • Our Neighbor in Space
Welcome to the Moon information file! The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite and our closest neighbor in space. Its cratered surface has been watched by people for thousands of years, and it remains the only world beyond Earth that humans have ever visited.
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MOON OVERVIEW
The Moon is a rocky world that orbits Earth at an average distance of about 238,855 miles. Scientists think it formed more than 4 billion years ago, probably after a huge object collided with the young Earth and material from the collision eventually came together to form the Moon.
The Moon has almost no atmosphere, so its surface is exposed directly to space. With little erosion from wind or rain, craters and other ancient features can remain visible for extremely long periods of time.
The Moon has almost no atmosphere, so its surface is exposed directly to space. With little erosion from wind or rain, craters and other ancient features can remain visible for extremely long periods of time.
🌎 LOCATION
The Moon orbits Earth at an average distance of about 238,855 miles. It travels around our planet once every 27.3 days.
SIZE
The Moon has a diameter of about 2,159 miles. Its diameter is a little more than one-quarter the diameter of Earth.
GRAVITY
Gravity on the Moon is only about one-sixth as strong as gravity on Earth. A person would weigh much less there, although their mass would stay the same.
☁ ATMOSPHERE
The Moon does not have a thick atmosphere like Earth. Instead, it has an extremely thin layer of gases called an exosphere.
✦ MOON FAST FACTS ✦
| Classification | Natural Satellite |
| Planet | Earth |
| Average Distance from Earth | About 238,855 miles |
| Diameter | About 2,159 miles |
| Orbital Period | About 27.3 Earth days |
| Gravity | About one-sixth of Earth's gravity |
| Moons | None |
| Human Landings | 6 crewed Apollo landings |
| First Human Landing | Apollo 11 • July 20, 1969 |
WHAT IS THE MOON LIKE?
The Moon's surface is covered in rock, dust and countless impact craters. The powdery layer of broken rock and dust covering much of the surface is called lunar regolith.
The large dark patches visible from Earth are called maria, the Latin word for "seas." Early astronomers once thought these areas might contain water, but they are actually enormous plains of ancient volcanic rock.
The brighter areas are rugged lunar highlands covered with many craters. The Moon also has mountains, valleys and enormous impact basins.
The large dark patches visible from Earth are called maria, the Latin word for "seas." Early astronomers once thought these areas might contain water, but they are actually enormous plains of ancient volcanic rock.
The brighter areas are rugged lunar highlands covered with many craters. The Moon also has mountains, valleys and enormous impact basins.
★ DID YOU KNOW? ★
We always see nearly the same side of the Moon from Earth! The Moon takes about the same amount of time to rotate once on its axis as it takes to orbit Earth. This is called tidal locking. The other side isn't permanently dark — it receives sunlight too!
We always see nearly the same side of the Moon from Earth! The Moon takes about the same amount of time to rotate once on its axis as it takes to orbit Earth. This is called tidal locking. The other side isn't permanently dark — it receives sunlight too!
SPACECRAFT MISSION LOG
> DESTINATION: THE MOON
> LUNA PROGRAM
The Soviet Luna missions achieved several historic firsts, including the first spacecraft to reach the Moon and the first photographs of its far side.
> APOLLO 11
On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on another world while Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit.
> APOLLO PROGRAM
Six Apollo missions successfully landed astronauts on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. Astronauts explored the surface, performed experiments and returned lunar rocks to Earth.
> LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has mapped the Moon in extraordinary detail and continues to provide information about its surface.
> ARTEMIS
NASA's Artemis program is working toward new human exploration of the Moon and long-term scientific study of the lunar environment.
> STATUS:
LUNAR EXPLORATION CONTINUES...
> LUNA PROGRAM
The Soviet Luna missions achieved several historic firsts, including the first spacecraft to reach the Moon and the first photographs of its far side.
> APOLLO 11
On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on another world while Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit.
> APOLLO PROGRAM
Six Apollo missions successfully landed astronauts on the Moon between 1969 and 1972. Astronauts explored the surface, performed experiments and returned lunar rocks to Earth.
> LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has mapped the Moon in extraordinary detail and continues to provide information about its surface.
> ARTEMIS
NASA's Artemis program is working toward new human exploration of the Moon and long-term scientific study of the lunar environment.
> STATUS:
LUNAR EXPLORATION CONTINUES...