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 germanic and old english derivation. The earth and moon are tidally locked Their rotations are so in sync we only see one side of the moon Humans didn't see the lunar far side until a soviet spacecraft flew past in 1959 The moon has a solid, rocky surface cratered and pitted from impacts by asteroids, meteorites, and comets.
The moon has eight phases in a lunar month Four primary and four intermediate phases A moon cycle, or a lunation, is the time the moon travels through its lunar phases. Discover interesting facts about how the moon formed, what it's made out of, and the many missions humans have launched to explore it. Today's lunar phases, including the moon age and details such as moonrise and moonset Discover when the moon will reach the full moon phase with a countdown timer.
When we have a full view of the completely illuminated side of the moon, that phase is known as a full moon. How big is the moon The moon’s diameter is approximately 2,160 miles (3,475. With our 2025 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.
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