Refiner of Gold Creations'

Solar System -- Moon

Earth's Natural Satellite
The Moon
  • Diameter is 2,160 miles (3,746 km)
  • Average distance is 238,000 miles (387,000 km) from Earth
    • Distance varies from 221.463 50 252.710 miles
  • Temperature ranges between -240°F (1515°C) and 220°F (105°C)
  • The Moon has no atmosphere.
  • Rotation is 27.3 days (655.2 hours)
  • Revolution is 27.3 days
  • Period between full moons is 29.5 days
  • Density is 3.3
  • Direction of orbit is west to east.
  • Orbital axis is tilted 5° 8'
  • Surface gravity is 1/6 that of Earth
  • Area is 14,000,000 square miles, about 1/14 that of Earth
  • The gravitational pull of the Moon's orbit is the primary cause of Earth's tides.
  • The Moon's orbit also affects movements in Earth's atmoshpere and land masses, as well as minor variations in Earth's magnetic field.
  • Surface rocks are igneous -- primarily of basalt, aluminum-rich anorthosite, and a radioactive rock unlike any found on Earth.
  • Lunar rock samples comprise of high percentages of titanium, scandium, zirconium, and other metals with high melting points.
  • Rock and soil samples lack water, organisms and fossils of organisms.
  • Regolith, several feet of lunar soil formed by continual meteorite bombarment, is a fine powder.
  • On the Moon it is always silent because there is no air to carry sound waves.
For more information on Moon, visit:

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Refiner of Gold Creations
1998 Solar System Facts
Created by EMC on 6/23/1997. Updated 5/4/2005.