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"

Eclipsed Moon in the Morning

Eclipsed Moon in the Morning

09/12/2011

Solar Eclipse over Antarctica

Solar Eclipse over Antarctica

02/12/2011

Shuttle Plume Shadow Points to the Moon

Shuttle Plume Shadow Points to the Moon

27/11/2011

Leonid Fireball over Tenerife

Leonid Fireball over Tenerife

22/11/2011

A Colorful Side of the Moon

A Colorful Side of the Moon

18/11/2011

NGC 7380: The Wizard Nebula

NGC 7380: The Wizard Nebula

02/11/2011

Hammer Versus Feather on the Moon

Hammer Versus Feather on the Moon
Video

01/11/2011

Rollback from GRAIL's Rocket

Rollback from GRAIL's Rocket

10/09/2011

Apollo 17 Site: A Sharper View

Apollo 17 Site: A Sharper View

08/09/2011

In the Shadow of Saturn

In the Shadow of Saturn

04/09/2011

Aurora Over Greenland

Aurora Over Greenland

23/08/2011

Perseid Below

Perseid Below

17/08/2011

Castle and Meteor by Moonlight

Castle and Meteor by Moonlight

13/08/2011

Atlantis Farewell from Parkes

Atlantis Farewell from Parkes

21/07/2011

Starry Night over Dubai

Starry Night over Dubai

16/07/2011

A Total Lunar Eclipse Over Tajikistan

Video preview available on open
Video

11/07/2011

Eclipse over the Acropolis

Eclipse over the Acropolis

25/06/2011

Eclipsed Moonlight

Eclipsed Moonlight

21/06/2011

Eclipsed Moon in the Milky Way

Eclipsed Moon in the Milky Way

17/06/2011

Dawn's Grand Finale

Dawn's Grand Finale

04/06/2011

The Mileage of Light

The Mileage of Light

28/05/2011

Enceladus Looms

Enceladus Looms

12/05/2011

Wonder and Mystery above the Very Large Telescopes

Wonder and Mystery above the Very Large Telescopes

09/05/2011

Celestial Trails over Greece

Video preview available on open
Video

04/05/2011

Shadows at the Lunar South Pole

Shadows at the Lunar South Pole

23/04/2011

Lunar Farside

Lunar Farside

09/04/2011

It's Raining on Titan

It's Raining on Titan

01/04/2011

Time-Lapse Auroras Over Norway

Video preview available on open
Video

28/03/2011

Auroral Substorm over Yellowknife

Auroral Substorm over Yellowknife

25/03/2011

Boston Moonrise

Boston Moonrise

24/03/2011