Earth's Satellite Moon Facts

The Moon is the only natural satellite of the Earth. It is the fifth largest natural satellite in our solar system.

Moon distance from Earth The distance of the Moon from the Earth is 3,84,403 km. This distance is 30 times the diameter of the Earth.

That is, 30 Earth-sized planets can fit between the Earth and the Moon. The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth, about an inch away each year.

The radius of the Moon is about 1,740 km (1,080 mi). It is less than a third of the width of the Earth.

The Moon rotates on its axis at the same speed as it revolves around the Earth. This is called synchronous rotation.

The Moon completes the orbit of the Earth in 27.3 days and one rotation on its axis also takes 27.3 days. But there are 29.5 days between two full moons.

The gravitational force of the Moon's surface is 1/6 of the Earth's. The ocean tides and ebb on Earth are caused by the gravitational force of the Moon.

The diameter of the Moon is one-fourth that of the Earth and 1/81 the mass. The Moon has a very thin and weak atmosphere called the exosphere. It is not breathable.

The Moon has a core, mantle and crust. It has a solid, rocky surface that is cratered and cratered by impacts from asteroids, meteorites, and comets.

Long ago the Moon had active volcanoes, but today they are all dormant and have not erupted for millions of years.

The moon has no light of its own. It is illuminated by sunlight. Moon has no rings. Moon has no satellite.

When the Moon moves between the Sun and the Earth in its orbit, it is called a solar eclipse. When the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, it is called a lunar eclipse.