In geophysical terms, the Moon is a planetary-mass object or satellite planet. Its mass is 1.2% that of the Earth, and its diameter is 3,474 km (2,159 mi), roughly one-quarter of Earth's (about as wide as the …

2 days ago · Moon, Earth’s sole natural satellite and nearest celestial body. Known since prehistoric times, it is the brightest object in the sky after the Sun. Its name in English, like that of Earth, is of …

Sep 18, 2025 · The eight lunar phases are, in order: new Moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full Moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. The cycle repeats about …

Dec 15, 2025 · Lunar landers from Blue Origin, Firefly Aerospace, Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic are gearing up for moon landing attempts in 2026 as the commercial exploration of deep space expands.

The Moon: Complete and live astronomy data, visibility information, sky charts, graphs, and tools for sky-watchers at all levels.

Nov 19, 2021 · What Is the Umbra? The umbra is the dark center portion of a shadow. The Moon's umbra causes total solar eclipses, and the Earth's umbra is involved in total and partial lunar eclipses.

What is the moon made of, and how did it form? Learn about the moon's violent origins, how its phases shaped the earliest calendars, and how humans first explored Earth's only natural satellite half a …

6 days ago · With our 2026 Moon Phase Calendar, you'll find the current Moon phase for tonight—plus, all the phases of the Moon for each day of the month.

Explore the current phase of the moon, its rise and set times, nightly motion across the sky, and discover lunar features with our interactive map. Stay informed about the celestial movements above.

2 days ago · Moon - Craters, Highlands, Maria: The Moon is a spherical rocky body, probably with a small metallic core, revolving around Earth in a slightly eccentric orbit at a mean distance of about …