The story of space

Earth's Moon

Overwiew

Earth's Moon is the only place beyond Earth where humans have set foot. The brightest and largest object in our night sky, the Moon makes Earth a more livable planet by moderating our home planet 's wobble on its axis, leading to a relatively stable climate. It also causes tides, creating a rhythm that has guided humans for thousands of years. The Moon was likely formed after a Mars-sized body collided with Earth.
Our moon is the fifth largest of the 190+ moons orbiting planets in our solar system.
Earth's only natural satellite is simply called "the Moon" because people didn 't know other moons existed until Galileo Galilei discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter in 1610.

Facts

  • small companion
    If you set a single green pea next to U.S. nickel, you'd have a pretty good idea of the size of the Moon compared to Earth.
  • constant companion
    The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It goes around the Earth at a distance of about 239,000 miles (385,000 kilometers).
  • locked up
    The Earth and Moon are tidally-locked. Their rotations are so in sync we only see one side of the Moon all the time. Human's didn't see the lunar far side until a Soviet spaecraft flew past in 1959.
  • can stand on it
    The Moon is a rocky, solid-surface body with much of its surface cratered and pitted from impacts.
  • BRING A SPACESUIT
    The Moon has a very thin and tenuous atmosphere called an exosphere. It is not breathable.
  • MOONLESS
    The Moon has no moons.
  • RINGLESS
    The Moon has no rings.
  • MANY VISITORS
    More than 105 robotic spacecraft have been launched to explore the Moon. It is the only celestial body beyond Earth—so far—visited by human beings.
  • POTENTIAL FOR LIFE?
    The Moon's weak atmosphere and its lack of liquid water cannot support life as we know it.
  • MOONWALKERS
    Apollo astronauts brought back a total of 842 pounds (382 kilograms) of lunar rocks and soil to Earth. We are still studying them.