Our Moon
Our Moon
The Moon feels constant and calm, but it has a surprisingly dramatic past—and an even stranger present. From slowly escaping Earth’s grip to preserving ancient footprints, the Moon is far more active and mysterious than it looks.
Embedded Files
Image Credit: NASA
Here are some fascinating facts that make our Moon way cooler than it gets credit for:
Here are some fascinating facts that make our Moon way cooler than it gets credit for:
It’s drifting away from Earth
The Moon moves about 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) farther from Earth every year. Long ago, it appeared much larger in the sky—and far in the future, it’ll look noticeably smaller.We don’t actually see just one side
Although the Moon is tidally locked to Earth, a gentle wobble called libration lets us see about 59% of its surface over time.The “dark side” isn’t dark at all
Both sides of the Moon get sunlight. The far side is just permanently hidden from Earth and wasn’t photographed until 1959.The Moon has moonquakes
Caused by Earth’s gravity and the Moon’s cooling interior, moonquakes can last up to 10 minutes, much longer than typical earthquakes.It once had a magnetic field
Billions of years ago, the Moon had a strong magnetic field, meaning it was once hotter, more active, and more Earth-like than it is today.Footprints can last millions of years
With no wind or rain, astronaut footprints on the Moon could remain almost unchanged for millions of years—unless disturbed by meteor impacts or future explorers.It controls Earth’s tides—and tugs on you too
The Moon’s gravity moves oceans, slightly flexes Earth’s crust, and even exerts a tiny pull on your body (though not your emotions).It likely formed from a massive collision
The leading theory is that a Mars-sized object collided with early Earth, and the debris eventually formed the Moon—making it a relic of a violent cosmic event.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse