In geophysical terms, the Moon is a planetary-mass object or satellite planet. Its mass is 1.2% that of the Earth, and its diameter is 3,474 km (2,159 mi), roughly one-quarter of Earth's (about as wide as the …

Dec 17, 2025 · The Earth and Moon are tidally locked. Their rotations are so in sync we only see one side of the Moon. Humans didn't see the lunar far side until a Soviet spacecraft flew past in 1959. …

2 days ago · Discover fascinating Moon facts—from its size and orbit to gravity, brightness, and temperature. Learn what makes Earth’s Moon truly unique.

2 days ago · Current moon phase, including information about its position, illumination, moonrise, and moonset.

We see the full moon when the sun is directly behind us, illuminating a full hemisphere of the moon when it is directly in front of us.

What is the moon made of, and how did it form? Learn about the moon's violent origins, how its phases shaped the earliest calendars, and how humans first explored Earth's only natural satellite half a …

Jan 13, 2026 · Particles from Earth’s atmosphere have been carried into space by solar wind and landing on the moon for billions of years, mixing into the lunar soil, according to a new study.

2 days ago · Moon, Earth’s sole natural satellite and nearest celestial body. Known since prehistoric times, it is the brightest object in the sky after the Sun. Its name in English, like that of Earth, is of …

The moon is the Earth's only natural satellite and the closest celestial object. Learn about the moon and some of the theories about the moon's origin.

6 days ago · The rollout sets the stage for tests and dress rehearsals ahead of NASA's first crewed flight to the moon in more than 50 years. The mission could launch in three weeks.