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 …

NASA's interactive map for observing the Moon each day of the year. WHAT WILL YOU SEE? This shows the Moon’s current phase in two ways: the percentage of the Moon’s nearside that …

Apr 8, 2025 · Earth’s Moon is thought to have formed in a tremendous collision. Ancient ice hidden deep in permanently shadowed craters. H20 molecules on the sunlit lunar surface. …

6 days ago · The moon’s glowing appearance comes from the sun’s reflected light, leading to its typical white or golden hue, according to NASA. Instead, the “pink” name is a nod to the arrival …

Apr 9, 2025 · 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 …

Apr 8, 2025 · As the Moon orbits Earth, different parts are in sunlight or darkness at different times. The changing illumination is why, from our perspective, the Moon goes through phases. …

Apr 8, 2025 · The eight lunar phases are, in order: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. The cycle …

Apr 7, 2025 · Earth has just one moon – a rocky, cratered place, roughly a quarter the size of Earth and an average of 238,855 miles away. The Moon can be seen with the naked eye most …

Mar 21, 2025 · The moon is only about 385,000 km from Earth, so it’s well inside our Hill sphere and therefore more under Earth’s influence than the sun’s. This region of space grows larger …

The brightest and largest object in our night sky, the Moon makes Earth a more livable planet by moderating our home planet's wobble on its axis, leading to a relatively stable climate. It also …