What Is the Moon?
The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite and has been orbiting our planet for about 4.5 billion years. It is a rocky sphere about 3,476 km wide, roughly one quarter the size of Earth.
Scientists believe it formed after a Mars-sized object collided with the early Earth, sending molten rock into space. This material eventually came together and cooled to form the Moon.
The Moon shines by reflecting sunlight and goes through phases as it orbits Earth every 27.3 days. Its cratered surface shows billions of years of asteroid impacts, and it has almost no atmosphere.
Though it seems distant, the Moon plays a powerful role, its gravity controls Earth’s tides, and it remains the only world beyond Earth that humans have visited.
The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite and has been orbiting our planet for about 4.5 billion years. It is a rocky sphere about 3,476 km wide, roughly one quarter the size of Earth.
Scientists believe it formed after a Mars-sized object collided with the early Earth, sending molten rock into space. This material eventually came together and cooled to form the Moon.
The Moon shines by reflecting sunlight and goes through phases as it orbits Earth every 27.3 days. Its cratered surface shows billions of years of asteroid impacts, and it has almost no atmosphere.
Though it seems distant, the Moon plays a powerful role, its gravity controls Earth’s tides, and it remains the only world beyond Earth that humans have visited.
What Is the Moon?
The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite and has been orbiting our planet for about 4.5 billion years. It is a rocky sphere about 3,476 km wide, roughly one quarter the size of Earth.
Scientists believe it formed after a Mars-sized object collided with the early Earth, sending molten rock into space. This material eventually came together and cooled to form the Moon.
The Moon shines by reflecting sunlight and goes through phases as it orbits Earth every 27.3 days. Its cratered surface shows billions of years of asteroid impacts, and it has almost no atmosphere.
Though it seems distant, the Moon plays a powerful role, its gravity controls Earth’s tides, and it remains the only world beyond Earth that humans have visited.