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 …

3 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 …

Jul 7, 2025 · It orbits the Earth at an average distance of approximately 240,000 miles (384,000 km). The Moon completes an orbit of the Earth every 27.3 days (approximately 655 hours). The Moon …

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 …

A Moon cycle, or a lunation, is the time the Moon travels through its lunar phases. ©timeanddate.com Your January 2026 Moon guide Skywatching tips for January 2026’s must-see celestial events Your …

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.

Jan 3, 2026 · With our 2026 Moon Phase Calendar, you'll find the current Moon phase for tonight—plus, all the phases of the Moon for each day of the month.

Dec 28, 2025 · The moon and sun share top billing in 2026. Kicking off the year's cosmic wonders is the moon, drawing the first astronauts to visit in more than 50 years.

Dec 29, 2025 · The Moon makes Earth more livable, sets the rhythm of ocean tides, and keeps a record of our solar system's history. Explore NASA lunar science here.

4 days ago · NASA's 1st human moon mission in 50 years could be month out. What to know NASA's Artemis 2 mission will send four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon.