Explore the Moon: 10 Fascinating Facts You Should Know
Our Eternal Light in the Night – 10 Incredible Facts! 
Our Heavenly Companion
The Moon, our Earth-bound planet's only natural satellite and the fifth largest celestial body in the Solar System, has been a silent observer throughout Earth's incredible history. It lights up our nightlife and fills our songs and poetry.
The Mysterious Origin of the Moon
The moon has an amazing history that spans approx. 4.5 billion years. Scientists theorize that a Mars-sized object called Theia once collided with the young Earth. The result was a spectacular firework of space rocks that eventually coalesced to form our Moon.
The Moon - A Stone's Throw Away
At a distance of about 384,400 kilometers, the Moon is close enough to fit 30 Earths side by side! It is our nearest neighbor in the infinite cosmos.
A World Picturesque and Brutal
The Moon's surface is an astonishing landscape of craters, rocks, mountains and "seas" - vast, dark plains. With no atmosphere to create weather, the Moon's sky is always a deep, endless black.
The Moon's Role as Conductor of the Tides
The moon has a profound effect on our blue planet, especially our oceans. It is the Moon's gravity that controls the dancing tides we experience here on Earth.
The Secret Side of the Moon
The moon is a little shy. It always shows the same face to us here on Earth. This is due to "bound rotation", where the Moon rotates on its own axis at the same rate as it orbits the Earth.
The Constant Change of the Moon
The appearance of the moon undergoes a beautiful transformation in a cycle of about 29.5 days. These shifts, known as lunar phases, include everything from the dark new moon to the brilliant full moon and all the waxing and waning stages in between.
Mankind's Footprint on the Moon
On July 20, 1969, mankind made history when we landed on the Moon for the first time during NASA's Apollo 11 mission. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first people to leave their footprints on the dusty surface of the Moon.
The Moon – A World of Extremes
The Moon is a place of extreme contrasts, especially when it comes to temperatures. When the sun's rays hit the surface, the temperature can rise to a scorching 127 degrees Celsius. But during the moon's long, dark nights, the temperature plunges to a cryogenically cold -173 degrees Celsius.
The future of lunar research
Lunar research is far from over. With new technology and space missions, we plan to explore the Moon even more. Missions like NASA's Artemis program aim to send the next man, and the first woman, to the Moon before this decade is out. The Moon remains a source of fascination and a key to understanding our place in the solar system. Countless mysteries still await us about our heavenly companion.