Back to Glossary

The Moon

The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite—a rocky, cratered body about one‑quarter the diameter of Earth, orbiting at an average distance of approximately 384,400 km. It influences tides, stabilizes Earth’s axial tilt, and was formed about 4.5 billion years ago following a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object.

Source: science.nasa.gov

APODs including "The Moon"

A Trip to the Moon

A Trip to the Moon

13/01/2014

Clouds and Crescents

Clouds and Crescents

04/01/2014

Time-Lapse Auroras Over Norway

Video preview available on open
Video

29/12/2013

Phobos 360

Video preview available on open
Video

25/12/2013

Titan's Land of Lakes

Titan's Land of Lakes

20/12/2013

A Colorful Moon

A Colorful Moon

19/12/2013

Yutu Rover Rolls onto the Moon

Yutu Rover Rolls onto the Moon

16/12/2013

Gibbous Europa

Gibbous Europa

15/12/2013

Aurora and Unusual Clouds Over Iceland

Aurora and Unusual Clouds Over Iceland

18/11/2013

The Flash Spectrum of the Sun

The Flash Spectrum of the Sun

15/11/2013

In the Shadow of Saturn

In the Shadow of Saturn

13/11/2013

Solar Eclipse from Uganda

Solar Eclipse from Uganda

08/11/2013

Eclipse at 44,000 Feet

Eclipse at 44,000 Feet

07/11/2013

Eclipse Over New York

Eclipse Over New York

04/11/2013

A Rare Hybrid Solar Eclipse

A Rare Hybrid Solar Eclipse

03/11/2013

Jupiter's Triple Shadow Transit

Jupiter's Triple Shadow Transit

02/11/2013

A Spectre in the Eastern Veil

A Spectre in the Eastern Veil

30/10/2013

NGC 7789: Caroline's Rose

NGC 7789: Caroline's Rose

26/10/2013

Comet ISON Approaches

Comet ISON Approaches

07/10/2013

Moon, Venus and Planet Earth

Moon, Venus and Planet Earth

19/09/2013

Rotating Moon from LRO

Video preview available on open
Video

16/09/2013

Crescent Moon Meets Evening Star

Crescent Moon Meets Evening Star

13/09/2013

LADEE Launch Streak

LADEE Launch Streak

11/09/2013

Venus and the Triply Ultraviolet Sun

Venus and the Triply Ultraviolet Sun

20/08/2013

Moonset from Taiwan

Moonset from Taiwan

14/08/2013

Orbits of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids

Orbits of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids

12/08/2013

Moon Over Andromeda

Moon Over Andromeda

01/08/2013

Saturn, Titan, Rings, and Haze

Saturn, Titan, Rings, and Haze

29/07/2013

Earth and Moon from Saturn

Earth and Moon from Saturn

22/07/2013

Take a Picture of Saturn

Take a Picture of Saturn

19/07/2013