The Moon

The Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite and the fifth largest moon in our solar system.  Put simply, it is a spinning ball of rock in space, and yet, it is so much more.  As the largest and brightest object in our night sky, the Moon has held a special place in the lives and dreams of mankind.  It’s ever changing face has been revered and worshiped as a god, served as a measurement of time, and inspired the imaginations of countless human beings.  

moon

Moon Stats

The following lists contains some of the basics statistics for the Moon.
  • Age: About 4.425 billion years old
  • Radius at the Equator: 1,738.1 km
  • Polar Radius: 1,736 km
  • Mass (1022 kg):  7.347 x 1022 kg
  • Surface Gravity:  1.62 m/s2
  • Sidereal Month: 27.32 Earth days
  • Lunar Month: 29.53 Earth days
  • Mean Distance from the Earth: 239,000 mi (385,000 km)
  • Perigee (average): 225,700 mi (363,300 km)
  • Apogee (average): 251,900 mi (405,500 km)
  • Average High Temperature at Equator: 250° F  (130° C)
  • Average Low Temperature at Equator: -208° F (-130 C)
  • Axis of Rotation Tilt: 5 degrees