Moon
Natural satellite orbiting Earth
Summary
The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It orbits around Earth at an average distance of 384,399 kilometers (238,854 mi), a distance roughly 30 times the width of Earth. It completes an orbit in relation to Earth and the Sun (synodically) every 29.5 days. The Moon and Earth are bound by gravitational attraction, which is stronger on the sides facing each other. The resulting tidal forces are the main driver of Earth's tides, and have pulled the Moon to always face Earth with the same near side. This tidal locking effectively synchronizes the Moon's rotation period to its orbital period.
Originally created by Bryan Derksen
11/5/2001, 4:44:29 AM
Modified
5/23/2026, 5:37:42 AM
Recent revisions
Reverted edit by [[Special:Contribs/Uaimwpgt|Uaimwpgt]] ([[User talk:Uaimwpgt|talk]]) to last version by Epicazowski
[[MOS:REFSPACE]]
Reverted edit by [[Special:Contribs/Iqosaynv|Iqosaynv]] ([[User talk:Iqosaynv|talk]]) to last version by Kimholder
/* Gravitational field */ make description of clip of Young jumping more accurate.
Use American English
Restored revision 1353528412 by [[Special:Contributions/Canterbury Tail|Canterbury Tail]] ([[User talk:Canterbury Tail|talk]]): Rv "Luna" in lede
Reverted edit by [[Special:Contribs/Fiavi3211|Fiavi3211]] ([[User talk:Fiavi3211|talk]]) to last version by Lofty abyss
Reverted edit by [[Special:Contribs/Zipwire173|Zipwire173]] ([[User talk:Zipwire173|talk]]) to last version by Canterbury Tail
[[WP:AES|←]]Blanked the page
rv edit warring, get consensus for this on the talk page.
reverted back to the general 'thistle' round-moon scheme pending future developments in regards to standardized major moon infobox schemes
Undid revision [[Special:Diff/1351360091|1351360091]] by [[Special:Contributions/IvarTheBoneless123|IvarTheBoneless123]] ([[User talk:IvarTheBoneless123|talk]]) Restoring more readable colour
final color scheme change
Not signficant enough for the lead.
