The Moon has always fascinated us, shining brightly in the night sky and inspiring stories, songs, and dreams. But did you know that the Moon holds some incredible secrets? Here are three interesting facts about the Moon that might surprise you!
Yes, you read it correctly! The Moon is gradually moving away from Earth. Every year, the Moon travels around 3.8 centimeters (or 1.5 inches) away from our earth. This may not seem like much, but over millions of years it adds up. Scientists think this is due to tidal forces between Earth and Moon. As the Earth's rotation slows down gradually, the Moon moves further away. In billions of years, this may even alter how we perceive the Moon in the sky, though not anytime soon!
The Moon has a particular position in human history since it is the only site beyond Earth where people have ever landed. This astounding feat occurred on July 20, 1969, when NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully landed astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon. Armstrong's famous comments, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," signaled a watershed moment for humankind. Since then, 12 astronauts have walked on the Moon, studying the surface and gathering samples. The last manned journey to the Moon occurred in 1972, and we are still learning from the missions today.
The Moon is continually orbiting the Earth. The Moon takes approximately 27.3 days to complete one full orbit around our earth. This time is referred to as a sidereal month. Interestingly, this is also the time it takes the Moon to complete one rotation on its own axis. As a result, we always view the same side of the moon from Earth. The side of the Moon that we cannot see is commonly referred to as the "far side" or the "dark side," despite the fact that it receives sunlight in the same way as the visible side does.
The Moon is more than simply a gorgeous light in the night sky; it contains interesting facts and mysteries that continue to intrigue scientists and astronomers alike. From gradually drifting away from Earth to becoming the only other globe humans have walked on foot, the Moon's story is as complex as it is fascinating. The more we learn about it, the more fascinated we get!
