The Moon, Earth’s natural satellite, offers intriguing details about its distance, size, colors, and geological features. Positioned about 250,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from Earth, it is farther away than many perceive. NASA’s Apollo missions placed reflectors on the Moon that allow precise measurements, revealing it drifts approximately 1.5 inches (nearly 4 centimeters) away annually. The Moon is about one-fourth the size of Earth, comparable in width to the United States or Europe. Its color varies; it appears orange or amber during rising or setting due to Earth’s atmospheric light scattering, while it looks bright and whitish when directly overhead. Up close, its surface shows shades of gray resembling worn asphalt.
The Moon rotates on its axis, yet we see only one side because its rotation period aligns with its orbit around Earth. The darker regions, or “mare” (Latin for “seas”), are ancient volcanic plains created by impacts millions of years ago, with basalt rock formed from lava. The Sea of Tranquility is a notable mare, famously the Apollo 11 landing site. As NASA continues exploring the Moon, preparations are underway to send astronauts back through the Artemis program.
