Moon

THE MOON The moon orbits Earth. The average distance between the moon and Earth is 238,857 miles. It is a natural satellite and the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system. It reflects the Sun's light back to the Earth. Sometimes the Sun, Earth, and moon line up and an eclipse occurs. The moon is the secon brightest object in the sky. The moon's surface isn't actually light. It is pretty dark. The moon takes 27.32 days rotate on its axis. The moon has several phases. The whole moon is still there, but we can only see that part because it is lighted. The moon has many craters or impact basins on its surface. Most of these craters are formed when meteors or other objects crash into the surface. There are many other landforms on the moon. Some of the landforms are highlands, maria, basins, cinder cones, and domes. The first spaceship on the moon was the Russian Luna 2 on September 15, 1959. A few people have walked on the moon, but Neil Armstrong was the first. He first walked on the moon on July 16, 1969. When people walk on the moon their footsteps stay there. (Left)The phases of the moon. (Middle)Craters on the moon. (Right)Neil Armstrong on the moon The moons astronomical symbol