Moon – It is a solid heavenly body that revolves around a planet. The moon revolves around the earth so the moon is a natural satellite of the earth. Moon is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System. The orbit of the moon around the earth at an average lunar distance of about 384,000km or 1.28 light-seconds.

There are seven planets that have moons in the solar system including Saturn has 82 moons in which 53 are confirmed and 29 are provisional, Jupiter has 79 moons in which 53 are confirmed and 26 are provisional, Uranus has 27 confirmed moons, Neptune has 14 confirmed moons, Pluto has 5 confirmed moons, Mars has 2 confirmed moons and Earth has one only one moon. Venus and Mercury have no moon (natural satellites). The moon has no light of their own and shines because they reflect the light of the Sun. The orbit of the moon around the Earth has a synodic period of 29.5 days and a sidereal period of 27.3 days.

The moon revolves around the earth on a definite regular path and there is a gravitational attraction of the earth that holds the moon in its orbit. The moon is about one-fourth the size of the earth in diameter and its weight is about one-eighth that of the earth. Moon has no air or water and its surface is covered with hard and loose dirt, mountains, and craters. On the moon, days are extremely hot and nights are very cold. Due to the moon is nearer to the earth, it appears to be much bigger than the stars. Actually, the stars and planets are much bigger than the moon. The moon has no light of its own and shines due to the light coming from the sun which is reflected by the surface of the moon.

Important facts about the Moon – There are some of the important facts about the moon are as given below –

1. The Moon has a very thin atmosphere is known as the exosphere.
2. The whole surface of the moon is pitted and cratered from impacts.
3. The presence of the moon helps in stabilizing the wobble of the earth that is beneficial to stabilize the climate.
4. The moon also causes tides and creating a rhythm, which has guided for thousands of years.
5. The distance between the moon and the earth is about 384,000km or 240,000 miles.
6. The moon is only the natural satellite and is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System.
7. The days are extremely hot and the night is very cold on the moon.
8. The moon has no light of their own and shines because they reflect the light of the Sun.
9. There are about more than 105 robotic spacecraft that have been introduced for exploring the Moon and it is the only celestial body beyond Earth. which is visited by human beings.
10. Moon has no air or water so it does not support life.