The moon is Earth's natural satellite, orbiting around our planet at an average distance of about 238,855 miles. It is the fifth largest moon in the solar system and is thought to have been formed about 4.5 billion years ago.

Phases of the Moon

The moon goes through different phases as it orbits around the Earth. The phases include:

New Moon
Waxing Crescent
First Quarter
Waxing Gibbous
Full Moon
Waning Gibbous
Last Quarter
Waning Crescent

Surface Features

The moon's surface is covered in impact craters, mountains, valleys, and plains. The dark areas on the moon are called maria (singular: mare), which are large basaltic plains formed by ancient volcanic eruptions.

Tides

The moon's gravitational pull on Earth causes the ocean tides. When the moon is directly overhead or on the opposite side of the Earth, the high tides, known as spring tides, occur. When the moon is at a right angle to the line between the Earth and the sun, the low tides, known as neap tides, occur.