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Moon Facts

moonfacts

The Moon, Earth's only natural satellite, is a celestial body that has fascinated humanity for millennia. Its presence in our night sky has inspired myths, legends, and scientific inquiry. This document provides a concise overview of some key facts about the Moon.

Physical Characteristics

The Moon is a differentiated body, meaning it has a distinct crust, mantle, and core.

 

Characteristic

Value

Diameter

3,474 km (2,159 miles)

Mass

7.342 × 10^22 kg

Surface Gravity

1.62 m/s² (0.1654 g)

Average Distance from Earth

384,400 km (238,855 miles)

Orbital Period

27.32 Earth days

Rotational Period

27.32 Earth days

 

Lunar Phases

The phases of the Moon are the different ways the Moon looks from Earth over about a month. These phases are caused by the changing angles at which we view the Moon's illuminated surface as it orbits Earth.

 

Phase

Description

New Moon

The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, and the side facing Earth is not illuminated.

Waxing Crescent

A small sliver of the Moon becomes visible, growing larger each day.

First Quarter

Half of the Moon's face is illuminated.

Waxing Gibbous

More than half of the Moon is illuminated, and the illuminated portion continues to grow.

Full Moon

The entire face of the Moon is illuminated, as seen from Earth.

Waning Gibbous

The illuminated portion of the Moon begins to decrease after the full moon.

Last Quarter

Half of the Moon's face is illuminated, but on the opposite side from the first quarter.

Waning Crescent

A small sliver of the Moon remains visible, shrinking each day until the new moon.

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