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"

The Milky Way Behind an Eclipsed Moon

The Milky Way Behind an Eclipsed Moon

03/06/2003

Ring of Fire Revisited

Ring of Fire Revisited

30/05/2003

The Earth and Moon from Mars

The Earth and Moon from Mars

26/05/2003

Eclipsed Moon and Stars

Eclipsed Moon and Stars

23/05/2003

Eclipsed Moon Montage

Eclipsed Moon Montage

22/05/2003

Copper Moon, Golden Gate

Copper Moon, Golden Gate

21/05/2003

Moon Slide Slim

Moon Slide Slim

15/05/2003

International Space Station in Transit

International Space Station in Transit

09/05/2003

Big Blue Marble Earth

Big Blue Marble Earth

26/04/2003

Stars and Planets in the Halo of the Moon

Stars and Planets in the Halo of the Moon

21/03/2003

Apollo 12: Self-Portrait

Apollo 12: Self-Portrait

15/03/2003

Lunar Farside from Apollo 11

Lunar Farside from Apollo 11

12/03/2003

When Moons and Shadows Dance

When Moons and Shadows Dance

27/02/2003

Happy Birthday Jules Verne

Happy Birthday Jules Verne

15/02/2003

A Spherule from Outer Space

A Spherule from Outer Space

12/01/2003

Apollo 17: Boulder in Stereo

Apollo 17: Boulder in Stereo

11/01/2003

A Year of Assessing Astronomical Hazards

A Year of Assessing Astronomical Hazards

31/12/2002

Searching for Meteorites in Antarctica

Searching for Meteorites in Antarctica

26/12/2002

Apollo 17: Last on the Moon

Apollo 17: Last on the Moon

12/12/2002

Moon Shadow Moves Over Africa

Moon Shadow Moves Over Africa

09/12/2002

Moon, Mars, Venus, and Spica

Moon, Mars, Venus, and Spica

04/12/2002

Eclipse Over Acacia

Eclipse Over Acacia

03/12/2002

Surveyor Hops

Surveyor Hops

30/11/2002

Mare Orientale

Mare Orientale

23/11/2002

A Lunar Rille

A Lunar Rille

29/10/2002

The Galaxy and the Quasar

The Galaxy and the Quasar

07/10/2002

Accretion Disk Simulation

Accretion Disk Simulation

27/09/2002

X-Ray Moon

X-Ray Moon

14/09/2002

Aristarchus Plateau

Aristarchus Plateau

13/09/2002

Voyager Views Titan's Haze

Voyager Views Titan's Haze

05/09/2002