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 Moon HomeOverviewFactsTop QuestionsIn DepthCompositionFormationSun & WeatherWater & IcesMoon in MotionPhasesSupermoonsEclipsesTidesTidal LockingObserveDaily Moon GuideObserve the Moon NightViewing GuidePhotography GuideExplorationOverviewMissionsMoon WalkersMultimediaResourcesGalleriesInteractivesStoriesExplore This SectionMoon HomeOverviewIn DepthMoon in MotionObserveExplorationMultimediaStoriesThe MoonFrom lighting up our skies to maintaining a geological record of our solar system’s history, Earth’s closest celestial neighbor plays a pivotal role in the studies of our planet and our solar system.The Moon, taken from ISSAbout earth's moonSmall CompanionThe Moon is about 27% the size of Earth.Tidally LockedWe always see the same side of the Moon.Battered TerrainThe Moon has a solid, rocky surface.Bring a SpacesuitThere's no rain or wind, but there is weather.Destination Moon24 humans and more than 100 robots visited.OverviewEarth's Moon is the brightest and largest object in our night sky. The Moon makes Earth a more livable planet by moderating our home planet's wobble on its axis, leading to a relatively stable climate. It also causes tides, creating a rhythm that has guided humans for thousands of years.The Moon was likely formed after a Mars-sized body collided with Earth several billion years ago.Earth's only natural satellite is simply called "the Moon" because people didn't know other moons existed until Galileo Galilei discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter in 1610. In Latin, the Moon was called Luna, which is the main adjective for all things Moon-related: lunar.Featured VideoMoon Phases 2024This visualization shows the Moon's phase at hourly intervals throughout 2024, as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere.About Moon PhasesThis visualization shows the Moon's phase at hourly intervals throughout 2024, as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere.Explore the MoonIllustration composite of thinking emoji, animated question marks, with the Moon's surface in the background.Top Questions about Earth's MoonWhy can I see the Moon during the day? And other frequently asked questions about our Moon.Read MoreA composite photo of a supermoon partially obscured by treeline in the foreground.SupermoonsWhen the full moon is a little bit closer to us than usual, it appears especially large and bright in the sky.Read MoreRender of the Moon's surface and the SunWeather on the MoonWhat does “weather” mean on a world with practically no atmosphere? Explore extreme lunar surface conditions here.Read MoreEnhanced image showing possible water-ice on the Moon.Uncovering Lunar WaterThere’s water on the Moon. Follow the thread of discoveries that led up to the confirmation of its presence in 2020.Read MoreIllustration shows two planet-sized bodies crashing into each other with a massive explosion.The Moon's Origin StorySeveral theories vie for dominance but most agree on one thing — Earth's Moon was born from destruction.Read MorePhoto of ocean tides coming in on beach, with Moon behind horizon.Earth and TidesAs distant as the Moon may seem, its gravitational pull on Earth plays a huge role in the formation of tides.Read MoreLunar Reconnaissance Orbiter ImagE:Far Side of the MoonThe Moon's far side gets as much sunlight as its near side.Like Earth, the Moon has a day side and a night side, which change as the Moon rotates. The Sun always illuminates half of the Moon while the other half remains dark. NASA’s LRO mission has used its seven science instruments to map the entire lunar surface, including the Moon's near and far sides, down to a scale of one meter.Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter ImagE:Far Side of the MoonDetailed view of the Moon's surface, with sharp-edged craters and regional variations in shades of grey.Observe the MoonScreenshot with overlaid interface tools and labels for viewing the the Moon.Daily Moon GuideNASA’s interactive map for observing the Moon each day of the year.Diagram of the Moon's phases.Moon Observation JournalSpend the next month getting to know the Moon.A simple two-color illustration of a gibbous Moon containing the words "Observe the Moon."International Observe the Moon NightOn Sept 14, 2024, celebrate lunar observation, science, and exploration.Moon StoriesExplore All Moon StoriesArticle2 min readNASA’s LRO Spots China’s Chang’e 6 Spacecraft on Lunar Far SideImage Article1 min readA Solitary Sight6 min readNASA to Measure Moonquakes With Help From InSight Mars MissionArticle2 weeks ago1 min readGood Night, MoonImage Article3 min readNASA’s New Mobile Launcher Stacks Up for Future Artemis MissionsArticle1 month agoKeep ExploringDiscover More Topics From NASAFacts About EarthMarsNew InSight into the Red Planet PosterSaturnA view of Saturn from the Cassini spacecraft shows the golden planet with its rings.UranusThis is an image of the planet Uranus taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 in 1986.
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