Discover details and curiosities about the only natural satellite of the Earth and the Moon.
Location
The Moon is located orbiting the Earth at a distance of 384,400 km, moving away 3 cm per year.
Moon Movements
The Moon makes several movements over the years, but the 3 main ones are rotation, translation and revolution.
Rotation movement
The Moon rotates around its own axis every 28 days. This movement is what creates the famous dark side of the Moon. It keeps one side of the Moon always dark for Earth.
Translational Movement
The translational movement is the movement that the Moon makes around the Sun, following the Earth. This movement lasts 365 days.
Revolution Movement
The movement of revolution is the movement that the Moon makes around the Earth. This movement is responsible for the four phases of the Moon, which last about seven days.
Moon phases
The Moon has four main phases: new, waxing, full and waning. There are also four intermediate phases: first quarter, last quarter, waxing gibbous and waning gibbous.
New Moon
At this stage, the Moon is positioned between the Sun and the Earth, making it impossible to see at night. During this phase, the Moon rises at 6am and sets at 6pm.
Crescent moon
At this stage, the Moon is at a 90° angle with the Earth and we see part of its surface in the shape of a semicircle. The Crescent Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight.
Full moon
The Full Moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, with no obstacle to the Sun's rays on the Moon. In this phase, the Moon rises at 6 pm and sets at 6 am.
Waning Moon
In the fourth and final phase, the Moon is on the opposite side of the crescent, waning until it becomes new. In this phase, the Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon.
Other Curiosities
12 American men have walked on the Moon, but only 4 are alive. Buzz Aldrin, the second to walk on the Moon, inspired the Buzz Lightyear doll from Toy Story.