The Moon (celestial body)

The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite, orbiting our planet about 384,400 kilometers away. It influences ocean tides, stabilizes Earth's axial tilt, and has a surface covered with craters, mountains, and flat plains called maria. The Moon's gravity causes the tides and affects ocean movements. It has no atmosphere or weather, making its surface extreme and inhospitable. The Moon formed around 4.5 billion years ago, likely from debris after a giant collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body. Human landings began in 1969, and it continues to be a focus for scientific exploration and understanding of our solar system.