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The Moon

The Moon, as seen from Earth
The Moon, as seen from Earth
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license

The Moon is Earth's natural satellite. This means it travels (or orbits) around the Earth. It's a large, spherical body made of rock.

Its job is to:

Orbit the Earth. Its gravity also pulls on our oceans, which is what causes the tides (the sea coming in and out).

💡 Fun Facts

  • The Moon doesn't make its own light. It looks bright because it reflects the light from the Sun, just like a giant, dusty mirror.
  • It takes the Moon about 27 days to orbit the Earth once.
  • The dark patches you can see on the Moon are called 'maria' (Latin for 'seas'), which are ancient, flat plains of volcanic rock.