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"

Vanishing Umbra

Vanishing Umbra

08/04/2006

A Total Solar Eclipse over Turkey

A Total Solar Eclipse over Turkey

04/04/2006

Hubble Resolves Expiration Date For Green Cheese Moon

Hubble Resolves Expiration Date For Green Cheese Moon

01/04/2006

Solar Eclipse and SOHO

Solar Eclipse and SOHO

31/03/2006

When Diamonds Aren't Forever

When Diamonds Aren't Forever

30/03/2006

Moonquakes Surprisingly Common

Moonquakes Surprisingly Common

27/03/2006

Enceladus and the Search for Water

Enceladus and the Search for Water

10/03/2006

The Color of the Moon

The Color of the Moon

16/02/2006

Plato and the Lunar Alps

Plato and the Lunar Alps

11/02/2006

New Horizons Launches to Pluto

New Horizons Launches to Pluto

24/01/2006

Apollo 12: Self-Portrait

Apollo 12: Self-Portrait

21/01/2006

Lunokhod: Moon Robot

Lunokhod: Moon Robot

14/01/2006

Apollo 17's Moonship

Apollo 17's Moonship

07/01/2006

Earthrise

Earthrise

24/12/2005

Star Trails Above Mauna Kea

Star Trails Above Mauna Kea

20/12/2005

Apollo 17: Last on the Moon

Apollo 17: Last on the Moon

17/12/2005

The Last Moon Shot

The Last Moon Shot

10/12/2005

Moon Over Antarctica

Moon Over Antarctica

25/11/2005

Lunation

Lunation

13/11/2005

Surveyor Hops

Surveyor Hops

12/11/2005

Epimetheus and Janus: Interchangeable Moons of Saturn

Epimetheus and Janus: Interchangeable Moons of Saturn

02/11/2005

A Dark and Stormy Night

A Dark and Stormy Night

30/10/2005

On the Possibility of Ascending to Mars

On the Possibility of Ascending to Mars

19/10/2005

Eclipse Madrid

Eclipse Madrid

07/10/2005

Annular Solar Eclipse at High Resolution

Annular Solar Eclipse at High Resolution

05/10/2005

Orange Moon, Red Flash

Orange Moon, Red Flash

22/09/2005

A Quadruple Sky Over Great Salt Lake

A Quadruple Sky Over Great Salt Lake

13/09/2005

Moon River

Moon River

09/09/2005

Fresh Tiger Stripes on Saturn's Enceladus

Fresh Tiger Stripes on Saturn's Enceladus

06/09/2005

Full Moon, Green Rim

Full Moon, Green Rim

26/08/2005