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The ArchiveSeven files · 48 entriesEarth’s Celestial Companion
TheMoon
Earth’s celestial companion — a source of wonder, mystery, and endless fascination across science, culture, and imagination.
File 01 / Facts08 entries
Lunar
Facts
Measured, not imagined — the numbers that describe Earth's only natural satellite.
0.67°N 23.47°E3.01°S 23.42°W90°S- 014.5billion yearsAge & Formation
The Moon is approximately 4.5 billion years old, formed shortly after Earth from debris created by a Mars-sized object colliding with our planet.
T −4.5 billion yr - 023 474km acrossSize & Distance
The Moon is 3,474 km in diameter (about 1/4 the size of Earth) and orbits at an average distance of 384,400 km from Earth.
Ø 3,474 km / 384,400 km - 0327.32days, spin = orbitSynchronous Rotation
The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, meaning the same side always faces us. We never see the 'dark side' from Earth.
Spin 27.32 d = orbit 27.32 d - 04300°C between night and dayNo Atmosphere
The Moon has virtually no atmosphere, resulting in extreme temperature variations from -173°C to 127°C.
−173°C / +127°C - 051.62m/s², one sixth of gLunar Gravity
Gravity on the Moon is only 1/6th of Earth's gravity. An object weighing 100 kg on Earth would weigh just 16.6 kg on the Moon.
1.62 m/s² — 1/6 g - 0610minutes of shakingMoonquakes
The Moon experiences seismic activity called moonquakes, which can last up to 10 minutes—much longer than earthquakes.
3.01°S / 23.42°W — Apollo 12 seismometer - 0790°Ssouth polar cratersWater Ice
Scientists have discovered water ice in permanently shadowed craters at the Moon's poles, crucial for future lunar missions. The hunt is now live: China's Chang'e 7 (an orbiter, lander, rover and a hopping robot aimed at Shackleton crater) was held back from its August 2026 launch by a tropical storm and is reported for 2027, and US landers from Blue Origin and Astrobotic are aimed at the south pole.
89.9°S — Shackleton crater, Chang'e 7 target - 0810⁶years, at leastHuman Footprints
Footprints left by Apollo astronauts will remain on the Moon for millions of years due to the lack of wind and water erosion. The next set is planned for 2028: NASA's Artemis IV, the first crewed landing since 1972.
0.67°N / 23.47°E — Tranquility Base · next: Artemis IV, 2028
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Seven files, forty-eight entries, one moon. The rest of the archive is live: tonight’s phase, the year’s calendar, and the eclipses to come.