The moon is Earth's satellite and orbits the Earth at a distance of about 384 thousand km (239 thousand miles). It takes the moon 27 Earth days to rotate on its axis and orbit the earth, which is why we always see the same face of the moon.
Made up primarily of dense rocks that are rich in magnesium and iron, the the lunar surface by weight is roughly 43 percent oxygen, 20 percent silicon, 19 percent magnesium, 10 percent iron, 3 percent calcium, 3 percent aluminum, 0.42 percent chromium, 0.18 percent titanium and 0.12 percent manganese.
Its atmosphere cannot support life, but the moon's influence on life on Earth is undeniable. It's gravitational pull causes the Earth's tides to rise and fall, predictably. There are technically eight phases of the moon one when the moon is dark, three as it's becoming full, a full moon, and three phases as it decreases.
The phases are: new, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. During eclipses, the moon, Earth and sun are in a straight line casting a shadow on Earth.
(Photo: Shutterstock / Sources: NASA, Space.com)
A guide to the full moons of 2019
April 18, 2019, 4:12 p.m. by Kristen Bobst
Why are the full moons named as they are? We have the answers.
Israeli moon lander prepares for historic touchdown
April 9, 2019, 2:39 p.m. by Michael d'Estries
The Beresheet spacecraft is expected to land on the moon's surface on April 11.
Earth's atmosphere stretches further than we thought possible — to the moon and beyond
February 20, 2019, 8:26 p.m. by Bryan Nelson
The moon actually orbits within Earth's outer atmosphere.
This beautiful photo of the moon is 50,000 images rolled into 1
February 20, 2019, 5:09 p.m. by Michael d'Estries
Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy spent hours creating this breathtaking photo of our moon.
Satellite snaps first-ever group shot of Earth and the moon's far side
February 8, 2019, 8:21 a.m. by Michael d'Estries
Historic photo was captured by an optical camera onboard China's Longjiang-2 satellite.
This rock brought back from the moon likely came from Earth
January 25, 2019, 6:28 p.m. by Bryan Nelson
Even though it's not technically a moon rock, it could still offer valuable new knowledge.
A meteorite smashed into the blood moon during the eclipse, and it was caught on film
January 23, 2019, 1:39 a.m. by Bryan Nelson
It's the first time astronomers have recorded such an event during a lunar eclipse.
Earth may have two dusty 'ghost moons'
October 31, 2018, 8:23 a.m. by Michael d'Estries
Researchers say there may be as many as two translucent dust clouds orbiting our planet.
What to see in the night sky in October
September 27, 2018, 11:28 a.m. by Michael d'Estries
From 2 meteor showers to a celebration of the moon, here's what to spy in the heavens above this month.
There might once have been life on ... the moon? Yes, say researchers
July 23, 2018, 8:05 p.m. by Bryan Nelson
Pools of water might have teemed with simple organisms.
'Blood moon' eclipse will be century's longest
June 27, 2018, 9:32 a.m. by Michael d'Estries
July 27 total lunar eclipse expected to last 1 hour and 43 minutes.
4 things to know about the supermoon
November 29, 2017, 3:20 p.m. by Michael d'Estries
The sky will be bright with a huge, interesting moon. Here's what you need to know.
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