jordenmånen

Jordenmånen, often referred to as the Moon, is Earth's only natural satellite. It is a celestial body that orbits the planet Earth at an average distance of approximately 384,400 kilometers. The Moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the Solar System and the largest in our Solar System relative to the size of its primary planet, Earth. Its formation is widely believed to be the result of a giant impact event early in Earth's history, where a Mars-sized body collided with Earth, ejecting debris that eventually coalesced to form the Moon.

The Moon has no atmosphere, magnetic field, or liquid water on its surface. Its surface is characterized by craters, volcanic plains known as maria, and highlands. The gravitational interaction between the Earth and the Moon is responsible for phenomena such as tides on Earth. The Moon's phases, which are the different ways the Moon appears from Earth over a monthly cycle, are caused by its changing position relative to the Sun and Earth. These phases range from new moon, when the Moon is not visible, to full moon, when its entire face is illuminated.

Humanity has explored the Moon through various missions, most notably the Apollo program by NASA, which landed humans on its surface for the first time in 1969. These missions brought back lunar samples that have provided valuable insights into the Moon's composition and origin, as well as the early history of the Solar System. The Moon continues to be a target of interest for scientific research and potential future human endeavors.