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What is the Moon?
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Quick answer
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite — a large rocky world that orbits our planet. It has no light of its own; it shines by reflecting sunlight, and its gravity is the main cause of the ocean tides. The Moon is a natural satellite — a rocky body that orbits Earth, about 384,000 km away.
Key things to understand
- The Moon is a natural satellite — a rocky body that orbits Earth, about 384,000 km away.
- It doesn't produce light; we see it because it reflects sunlight.
- Its changing shape in the sky (the phases) comes from how much of its sunlit side faces us as it orbits.
- The Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, creating the tides.
- It's about a quarter of Earth's diameter and has no breathable atmosphere.
People also ask
Why does the Moon change shape?
Those are the phases. As the Moon orbits Earth, we see different amounts of its sunlit half — from a thin crescent to a full Moon and back.
Does the Moon make its own light?
No. The Moon has no light of its own — it reflects sunlight, which is why it shines in our night sky.
How does the Moon cause tides?
Its gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, bulging the water toward and away from it. As Earth rotates, places pass through these bulges, giving high and low tides.
Part of the guide: Space & Astronomy →