Moon

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

near and far sides of Earth's Moon

Interactive: A Tour of the Moon's Landmarks.

Look at the 3D map of the Moon as taken by the Clementine spacecraft

Earth relative in size to the Moon

geometry and motions of the Earth-Moon system

How to watch a solar eclipse

Five facts about solar eclipses

Why does the Moon always face Earth the same way?

For Students

Read Next

Solar system illustration. (Sun; planets)

A Model of the Cosmos

solar eclipse, sun, moon, astronomy, space

How Do You Tell the Difference Between Total, Annular, Solar, and Lunar Eclipses?

Planet Earth and lunar moon from space

Where Did the Moon Come From?

(Buzz Aldrin) stands next to the U.S. flag at Tranquility Base on the Moon during NASA's Apollo 11 mission, July 20, 1969. Aldrin's forward-leaning stance was the normal resting position of an astronaut wearing the life-support pack.

Moon Landing: Just the Facts

Galileo spacecraft image of the Moon taken on December 7, 1992. The distinct bright ray crater at the bottom of the image is the Tycho impact basin. The dark areas are lava rock filled impact basins: Oceanus Procellarum (on the left), Mare Imbrium (cont'd

5 Things People See in the Moon

Discover

US Marines firing at Fallujah, Iraq, during the Second Battle of Fallujah in November 2004. Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq War.

Timeline of the 2000s

Amendments 1-10 to the Constitution of the United States constitute what is known as the Bill of Rights on an American flag.

What Is the Emoluments Clause?

Aurochs. Bos primigenius. Skeleton. Extinct animal. Skeleton of an Aurochs, an extinct wild ox.

6 Animals We Ate Into Extinction

Drinking water is poured into a glass.

Water Fluoridation: Just the Facts

King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)

9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes

Cathedrale St.Jean in Lyon, France has a 14th-century astronomical clock that shows religious feast days till the year 2019; Perpetual Calendar

Ten Days That Vanished: The Switch to the Gregorian Calendar

Aspirin pills.

7 Drugs that Changed the World

Moon: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Moon mining machine: Interlune unveils helium-3 harvester prototype (photo) • May 20, 2025, 1:48 AM ET (Space)

NASA’s Webb Spots Clouds On Titan, Saturn’s ‘Earth-Like’ Moon • May 17, 2025, 9:40 AM ET (Forbes)

Top Prize Awarded in Lunar Autonomy Challenge to Virtually Map Moon’s Surface • May 16, 2025, 4:37 AM ET (NASA (.gov))

NASA Studies Reveal Hidden Secrets About Interiors of Moon, Vesta • May 14, 2025, 8:17 AM ET (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov))

Extremely rare Moon dust loaned from China shown in UK • May 8, 2025, 2:23 PM ET (BBC)

Photos and Videos

near and far sides of Earth's Moon

Earth relative in size to the Moon

geometry and motions of the Earth-Moon system

view over the Moon's north pole

Apollo program infographic.

Explore the timeline of the Apollo missions that led the United States to land the first humans on the Moon

engraved illustration of the Moon

Look at the 3D map of the Moon as taken by the Clementine spacecraft

How to watch a solar eclipse

Five facts about solar eclipses

Why does the Moon always face Earth the same way?

What happens during a solar eclipse?

See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Topics

Titan Europa Ganymede Io Enceladus Phobos Triton Callisto Charon Deimos

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

extraterrestrial life: The Moon and Mercury

Quiz

Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.

All About Astronomy

View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).

Astronomy and Space Quiz

Saturn. Saturn and its rings. Second largest planet of the solar system. Space Art

Planets and the Earth’s Moon

View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).

Astronomy and Space Quiz

The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet

Space Odyssey

The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet

Space Odyssey

Saturn. Saturn and its rings. Second largest planet of the solar system. Space Art

Planets and the Earth’s Moon

Model of a molecule. Atom, Biology, Molecular Structure, Science, Science and Technology. Homepage 2010 arts and entertainment, history and society

Science Quiz

Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.

All About Astronomy

List

Planet Earth and lunar moon from space

Where Did the Moon Come From?

Galileo spacecraft image of the Moon taken on December 7, 1992. The distinct bright ray crater at the bottom of the image is the Tycho impact basin. The dark areas are lava rock filled impact basins: Oceanus Procellarum (on the left), Mare Imbrium (cont'd

8 Questions About the Moon Answered

Galileo spacecraft image of the Moon taken on December 7, 1992. The distinct bright ray crater at the bottom of the image is the Tycho impact basin. The dark areas are lava rock filled impact basins: Oceanus Procellarum (on the left), Mare Imbrium (cont'd

5 Things People See in the Moon

Demystified

solar eclipse, sun, moon, astronomy, space

How Do You Tell the Difference Between Total, Annular, Solar, and Lunar Eclipses?

Colorful winter sunset

What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?

Colorful winter sunset

What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?

Apollo 12 astronaut Charles "Pete" Conrad stands beside the U.S. flag after is was unfurled on the lunar surface during the first extravehicular activity (EVA-1) Nov. 19, 1969. Footprints made by the crew can be seen in the photograph.

How Many People Have Been to the Moon?

A 3d tour of Earth's Moon.

What Have We Left on the Moon?