The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite and is the fifth-largest satellite in the Solar System. It is 238,900 miles away from Earth and has a diameter of about 2,160 miles. The Moon is thought to have formed about 4.5 billion years ago from a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object called Theia.
The Moon’s surface is covered in craters, mountains, and valleys. It has a thin atmosphere known as an exosphere. The Moon’s gravity is about one-sixth that of Earth’s, which allows astronauts to walk and jump higher on its surface.
The Moon orbits Earth once every 27.3 days and is tidally locked, which means it always shows the same face to Earth. This is why we only see one side of the Moon from Earth. The other side, known as the far side or dark side, was not seen by humans until a spacecraft flew around it in 1959.
The Moon plays a significant role in Earth’s tides due to its gravitational pull on our planet’s oceans. It also affects some animals’ behaviors, such as the spawning of certain marine species.
Throughout history, the Moon has captivated humans, resulting in numerous myths, folklore, and cultural significance. It has also been the subject of scientific exploration, with various missions sent to study its surface and composition. The first human landing on the Moon occurred on July 20, 1969, during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission led by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
Science blog 