Moon

:For other moons in the solar system see natural satellite. For the astrological meaning of the Moon, see Solar system in astrology. For other uses see Moon (disambiguation).

Related Topics:
Natural satellite - Solar system in astrology - Moon (disambiguation)

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The Moon is the planet Earth's only natural satellite. It has no formal name other than "The Moon" although it is occasionally called Luna (Latin for moon), or Selene, to distinguish it from the generic "moon" (natural satelites of other planets are also called moons). Its symbol is a crescent (Unicode: ☾). The terms lunar, selene/seleno-, and cynthion (from the Lunar deities Selene and Cynthia) refer to the Moon (aposelene, selenocentric, pericynthion, etc.).

Related Topics:
Earth - Natural satellite - Latin - Unicode - Lunar deities - Selene - Cynthia - Aposelene

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The average distance from the Moon to the Earth is 384,403 kilometers (238,857 miles). The Moon's diameter is 3,476 kilometers (2,160 miles).

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The first manmade object to land on the Moon was Luna 2 in 1959, the first photographs of the otherwise invisible far side of the Moon were made by Luna 3 that same year, and the first people to land on the Moon came aboard Apollo 11 in 1969.

Related Topics:
Luna 2 - 1959 - Luna 3 - Apollo 11 - 1969

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