Facts about the Moon

The Moon has been an object of fascination for humans since ancient times.

 Facts about the Moon – It’s silver luminosity and mystical qualities have inspired countless myths, legends and stories throughout history. 
But the Moon is more than just a celestial body. It is a fascinating natural satellite with unique characteristics that make it different from any other moon in our solar system. 

Despite being one-quarter the size of Earth, the Moon has a massive impact on our planet, affecting everything from the tides to the behaviour of animals. 
And while it may seem barren and lifeless, the Moon continues to hold a special place in our imaginations and scientific exploration.
 With only twelve people ever having walked on its surface, there is still much to learn and discover about this fascinating neighbour of ours in the cosmos. 

Here are some of the facts about the Moon for you to enjoy!

• The Moon formed 4.51 billion years ago, around 50 million years after the birth of the Solar System

• The origin of the Moon is not unanimous among the scientific community. Nevertheless, the prevailing theory is that both the Earth and the Moon system formed after a giant clash of a Mars-sized body with the proto-Earth that blasted material into Earth’s orbit and then formed the Moon.

• Our Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite.

• It is the fifth largest moon in the solar system.

• The Moon is about one-quarter the size of Earth.

• Our Moon has no atmosphere, no water, and no life.

• It takes about 27.3 days for the Moon to orbit Earth.

• The same side of the Moon always faces Earth, due to its synchronous rotation.

• The Moon’s surface area is less than the surface area of Asia.

• Our Moon’s surface is covered in craters, mountains, and valleys.

• The Moon’s gravity is about one-sixth of Earth’s gravity.

• Interestingly the crust of the Moon is, on average, about 31 miles (50 kilometres) thick.

• The Moon is not a perfectly round sphere – it’s an oval, egg-shaped satellite thanks to the Earth’s gravity pulls.

• Twelve people have walked on the Moon, all of them Americans, in six separate missions between 1969 and 1971

• When it comes to its chemical composition, the lunar surface is composed of silica (45 percent), alumina (14.9-24.0 percent), lime (11.8-15.9 percent), iron oxide (5.9-14.1 percent), magnesia (7.5-9.2 percent), titanium dioxide (0.6-3.9 percent), and sodium oxide (0.6 percent)

• Babylonian astronomers were the first to understand and record the lunar cycles in the 5th century BC

• The lunar surface is just slightly brighter than worn asphalt but reflects sunlight and gets a high contrast from the surrounding night sky. Interestingly, the Moon reflects three times less sunlight than Earth

• Maria – the Latin word for “seas” – is the name given to the dark lunar plains that were once filled with water and can be seen with the naked eye from the Earth

• Aitken is the name of the Moon’s largest crater, which measures 1,240 miles (1,995 kilometers);

• Terrae – the Latin word for “land” or “Earth” – is the name given to the light-colored regions of the Moon. They’re the satellite’s highlands;

• In 2018, scientists announced “definitive evidence” of water on the surface of the Moon. In 2020, astronomers revealed the detection of molecular water on the sunlit surface of the Moo