1. The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite and the fifth largest moon in the Solar System. 2. The Moon's gravitational influence is the primary driver of Earth's tides and slightly lengthens Earth's day.
3. The Moon's surface is marked by craters, volcanic maria (large, dark, basaltic plains), and highlands, and it is mostly made up of a rocky composition.
4. It is believed that the Moon formed around 4.5 billion years ago, not long after the Earth, potentially from the debris left after a collision with a Mars-sized body.
5. Lunar phases occur as the Moon orbits Earth, presenting different portions of its sunlit side to our view, ranging from new moon to full moon.
6. The far side of the Moon, commonly referred to as the "dark side," is never visible from Earth due to tidal locking, where the Moon's rotation period matches its orbit around Earth.
7. The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth at an average rate of 3.8 centimeters per year, as detected by laser rangefinding experiments.
8. Human exploration began with the Soviet Luna missions and was furthered by NASA's Apollo program, which famously landed astronauts on the Moon six times from 1969 to 1972.
9. The Moon's synchronous rotation with Earth leads to the same face of the Moon, the near side, always being visible to us.
10. In addition to its scientific interest, the Moon has been a source of inspiration in various cultures, influencing art, mythology, and literature, and is often associated with romance and folklore.