The Moon is located approximately 384,400 kilometers (238,855 miles) away from Earth, a distance that allows it to be the only celestial body visited by humans beyond our planet.
This orbital characteristic is essential for understanding the Moon’s phases and the timing of eclipses, which have both fascinated and aided humanity in timekeeping for centuries
The Moon’s synchronous rotation means it rotates on its axis in roughly the same time it takes to orbit Earth, resulting in the same hemisphere always facing our planet.
The far side of the Moon, often called the “dark side,” is a misnomer because it receives just as much sunlight as the side facing Earth.
With a diameter of about 3,475 kilometers (2,159 miles), the Moon is roughly one-fourth the diameter of Earth, making it a significant presence in our night sky.
The Moon’s gravitational pull is a dominant force that governs the Earth’s tides, creating the regular rise and fall of ocean levels known as tidal movements.
The Moon goes through a series of phases, including new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter, which are determined by its position relative to Earth and the Sun.
The Moon’s surface is a desolate landscape with extreme conditions, characterized by a very thin atmosphere, or exosphere, that is incapable of supporting life as we know it.