Interesting Things About The Moon | Must-Know Things About The Moon

Distance to Earth From Moon: 384,400 km
Gravity: 1.62 m/s²
Radius: 1,737.4 km
Age: 4.53 billion years
Surface area: 3.793×107 km2; (0.074 of Earth’s)
Surface pressure: 10−7 Pa (1 kilobar) (day); 10−10 Pa (1 femto bar); (night);
Orbital period: (synodic): 29.530589 d; (29 d 12 h 44)

The Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite. At about one-quarter the diameter of Earth, it is the fifth largest satellite in the solar system, the largest satellite in the solar system relative to its major planet, and larger than any known dwarf planet. The MOON’s distance from Earth is about 240,000 miles (385,000 km). The Moon has a very thin atmosphere called an exosphere. The MOON’s surface is cratered and pitted from comet and asteroid impacts. 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-size body collided with Earth.

Six missions landed humans on the Moon, beginning with Apollo 11 in July 1969, during which Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon. Apollo 13 was intended to land; however, it was restricted to a flyby due to a malfunction aboard the spacecraft.

From 2001-2019, the total Moon mission is 22.

The first spacecraft to land on the Moon is Luna 9.

The first image taken of the far side of the Moon was returned by Luna 3.

Buzz Aldrin ( pictured) walked on the Moon with Neil Armstrong on Apollo 11, 1969 July 20-21.

Earthrise, the iconic 1968 image from Apollo,8 taken by Astronaut Willam Anders.

The view of the Apollo 12 lunar module was captured from lunar orbit.

PHASES OF MOON

There are 8 phases of the moon:-

New moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Last Quarter
Waning crescent

NEW MOON

This is the invisible phase of the Moon, with the illuminated side of the Moon facing the sun and the night side facing Earth.

WAXING CRESCENT

Moon occurs when the illuminated half of the Moon faces mostly faces away from Earth with only a tiny portion visible to us from our planet.

FIRST-QUARTER

The Moon is now a quarter of the thorough way to its monthly journey and you see half of its illuminated side.

WAXING GIBBOUS

Now, most of the MOON’s dayside has come into view, the Moon appears brighter in the sky.

FULL MOON

The Moon is opposite to the sun, as viewed from earth, showing the Moon dayside. A full moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise. The Moon will appear full for a couple of days before it moves into Waning Gibbous.

WANING GIBBOUS

The Moon comes towards the Sun again, now the opposite side of the Moon reflects the MOON’s light.

LAST QUARTER

The Moon looks half-illuminated from the Earth. The last quarter Moon, also known as the third quarter Moon, rises around midnight and sets around noon.