
Moon - Wikipedia
The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It orbits around Earth at an average distance of 384,399 kilometres (238,854 mi), [f] a distance roughly 30 times the width of Earth. It …
Moon | Features, Phases, Surface, Exploration, & Facts | Britannica
Jan 7, 2026 · Moon, Earth’s sole natural satellite and nearest celestial body. Known since prehistoric times, it is the brightest object in the sky after the Sun. Its name in English, like that …
Moon Facts - Science@NASA
Dec 17, 2025 · The Earth and Moon are tidally locked. Their rotations are so in sync we only see one side of the Moon. Humans didn't see the lunar far side until a Soviet spacecraft flew past …
Moon Facts - Science Notes and Projects
Nov 5, 2025 · It is the largest and most massive satellite relative to its planet in the inner Solar System and the fifth-largest satellite overall. Named simply as “the Moon” in English (with the …
What’s the Definition of a ‘Moon’? | Scientific American
Mar 21, 2025 · Here’s a simple question: What’s a moon? As with so many questions in science, it may seem straightforward but truly isn’t. “Why, a moon is a celestial body that orbits a planet,” …
Moon 101 - National Geographic Society
The moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system with a diameter just under the width of China. It's composed of an iron-rich core, plus a mantle and crust containing minerals …
Moon - Definition & Detailed Explanation - Astronomical Objects ...
Nov 9, 2025 · What is the Moon? The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite, orbiting around our planet at a distance of approximately 384,400 kilometers. It is the fifth-largest moon in the …
Facts About the Moon | National Geographic
Learn about the moon's violent origins, how its phases shaped the earliest calendars, and how humans first explored Earth's only natural satellite half a century ago. How did the moon form? …
Everything you need to know about the Moon | Astronomy.com
Sep 7, 2023 · How big is the Moon? The Moon is Earth’s only permanent natural satellite, and it’s the fifth-largest satellite in our solar system. The Moon’s diameter is approximately 2,160 miles …
What Makes a Moon a Moon? - National Air and Space Museum
Nov 14, 2024 · A moon is a planetary body that goes around another planetary body. Usually, this is one or more moons going around a planet, but it doesn’t have to be a planet: the dwarf …