Moon
Also known as The Moon, ☾, Luna, ☽, Earth I, Sol IIIa, Lua
The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It orbits around Earth at an average distance of , a distance roughly 30 times the width of Earth. It completes an orbit (lunar month) in relation to Earth and the Sun (synodically) every 29.5 days. The Moon and Earth are bound by gravitational attraction, which is stronger on the sides facing each other. The resulting tidal forces are the main driver of Earth's tides, and have pulled the Moon to always face Earth with the same near side. This tidal locking effectively synchronizes the Moon's rotation period (lunar day) to its orbital period (lu
AI overview
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite, orbiting at a distance roughly 30 times Earth's width and completing one orbit every 29.5 days. It matters because the gravitational attraction between Earth and the Moon creates tidal forces that drive Earth's tides and have locked the Moon so that the same side always faces us.
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Key facts
- Planet.name
- Moon
- Planet.apsis
- gee
- Planet.symbol
- 24px|☾|class=skin-invert or 24px|☽|class=skin-invert
- Planet.image
- FullMoon2010.jpg
- Planet.image_alt
- Full Moon in the darkness of the night sky. It is patterned with a mix of light-tone regions and darker, irregular blotches, and scattered with varied circles surrounded by out-thrown rays of bright ejecta: impact craters.
- Planet.caption
- Near side of the Moon, lunar north pole at top
- Planet.background
- Thistle
- Planet.mpc_name
- Earth I
- Planet.periapsis
- km(– km)
~40 min read
Article
57 sectionsContents
- Names and etymology
- Classification
- Natural history
- Formation
- Natural development
- Lunar geologic timescale
- Future
- Physical characteristics
- Size and mass
- Structure
- Gravitational field
- Magnetic field
- Atmosphere
- Surface conditions
- Surface features
- Volcanic features
- Impact craters
- Lunar swirls
- Presence of water
- Earth–Moon system
- Orbit
- Orbital center
- Tidal effects
- System evolution
- Orientation and appearance
- Rotation
- Illumination and phases
- Observational phenomena
- Albedo and true color of the surface
- Eclipses
- Moon illusion
- {{anchor|Exploration}} History of scientific understanding and exploration
- Pre-telescopic observation (before 1609)
- Telescopic exploration (1609–1959)
- First missions to the Moon (1959–1976)
- Moon Treaty and explorational absence (1976–1990)
- Renewed exploration (1990–present)
- Future
- Human interaction and presence
- Human impact
- Astronomy from the Moon
- Living on the Moon
- Legal status
- Coordination and regulation
- In culture and life
- Timekeeping
- Cultural representation
- Crescent
- Other associations
- Representation in modern culture
- Lunar effect
- See also
- Explanatory notes
- References
- Further reading
- External links
- Cartographic resources
Surface absorbed dose rate13.2 μGy/h (during lunar daytime) Surface equivalent dose rate57.0 μSv/h (during lunar daytime) Apparent magnitude −2.5 to −12.9 −12.74 (mean full moon)
Absolute magnitude (H) 0.2 Angular diameter 29.3 to 34.1 arcminutes Atmosphere Surface pressure 10 Pa (1 picobar) (day) 10 Pa (1 femtobar) (night)
Gallery (53)
On the map
6 mapped locations