• The Moon is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest among planetary satellites relative to its host planet.
  • The Moon is in synchronous rotation with Earth, always showing the same face with its near side marked by dark volcanic maria that fill the spaces between the bright ancient crustal highlands and the prominent impact craters.
  • The Moon’s surface is also characterized by a high degree of impact cratering, evidence of past bombardment by asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
  • The Moon has no atmosphere, no magnetic field, and no weather.
  • The Moon has a weak intrinsic magnetic field, about 1/100th as strong as Earth’s.
  • The Moon’s surface is covered in a layer of fine dust called regolith.
  • The Moon has the largest fully exposed rift zone on its surface, known as the Rima Ariadaeus.
  • The Moon’s distance from Earth varies slightly throughout the month due to its elliptical orbit.
  • The Moon is the only natural satellite of the Earth and the fifth largest Moon in the Solar System.
  • The surface of the Moon is covered with craters, mountains, and vast plains.
  • The Moon’s surface is also characterized by a high degree of impact cratering, evidence of past bombardment by asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
  • The temperature on the Moon’s surface varies significantly between the day and night sides, with the day side reaching temperatures as high as 127°C (261°F) and the night side dropping to as low as -173°C (-279°F).