10 Interesting Facts About the Moon

moon-factsThe Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite. It was formed 4.6 billion years ago around some 30-50 million years after the formation of the solar system. The Moon is in isochronous rotation with Earth meaning the same side is always facing the Earth. The first unmanned mission to the Moon was in 1959. This mission was done by the Soviet Lunar Program with the first manned landing being Apollo 11 in 1969. Both sides of the Moon see sunlight however only one face of the Moon is ever seen from Earth. This is because the Moon rotates around on its own axis in exactly the same time it takes to orbit the Earth, meaning the same side is always facing the Earth.

10 Amazing Facts About Moon

1. The diameter of the moon is 3,475 km.
2. The mass of the moon is 7.35 × 10^22 kg (0.01 Earths)
3. The orbit distance of the moon is 384,400 km.
4. The orbit period of time of the moon is 27.3 days
5. The surface temperature of the moon is -233 to 123°C.
6. The rise and fall of the tides on Earth are caused by the Moon.
7. A person would weigh much less on the Moon as compared to the earth.
8. The Moon has no atmosphere as the earth.
9. The Moon has quakes because of the gravitational pull of the Earth.
10. The first spacecraft to reach the Moon was Luna 1 in 1959.