moon

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

Know about the moons of the solar system and giant impact hypothesis explaining the formation of the Earth's Moon

Explore the phases of the Moon and their effectiveness in tracking time

Interactive: A Tour of the Moon's Landmarks.

False-colour image of Saturn. Three of its satellites (Tethys, Dione, and Rhea) are visible as bright points on the left; a fourth moon, Mimas, can be seen in front of Saturn, below the ring system. This image is based on observations made by the Voyager spacecraft.

Three of the satellites of Uranus discovered by the Voyager 2 spacecraft are shown in an image taken Jan. 18, 1986.The largest of the satellites, 1986U1 (lower right), is about 90 km (55 miles) in diameter. In the upper right is the outermost ring of Uranus.

Discover facts about the Moon with an explanation of the supermoon phenomenon

False-colour images of the ring and satellites of Saturn, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, Nov. 21, 1995. The satellite Dione appears just above the rings in the first two images; Mimas is visible at the outer edge of the rings; and other moons are visible near Saturn's disk on the right.

Read Next

Colorful winter sunset

What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?

Galileo spacecraft image of the Moon taken on December 7, 1992. The distinct bright ray crater at the bottom of the image is the Tycho impact basin. The dark areas are lava rock filled impact basins: Oceanus Procellarum (on the left), Mare Imbrium (cont'd

5 Things People See in the Moon

Galileo spacecraft image of the Moon taken on December 7, 1992. The distinct bright ray crater at the bottom of the image is the Tycho impact basin. The dark areas are lava rock filled impact basins: Oceanus Procellarum (on the left), Mare Imbrium (cont'd

8 Questions About the Moon Answered

Planet Earth and lunar moon from space

Where Did the Moon Come From?

A 3d tour of Earth's Moon.

What Have We Left on the Moon?

Discover

World Data Locator Map: Australia

Is Australia an Island?

World map. Continents. Oceans. Mendel thumb ok

Just How Many Oceans Are There?

Statue of Liberty in front of the skyline of Manhattan, New York City, New York.

Who Was the Woman Behind the Statue of Liberty?

Camel at Khor Rori, Oman; mammal.

Do Camels Store Water in Their Humps?

Calendar marking march 15th

22 Questions About Time and Timekeeping Answered

Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.

Why Is Ireland Two Countries?

Young boys working in a thread spinning mill in Macon, Georgia, 1909. Boys are so small they have to climb onto the spinning frame to reach and fix broken threads and put back empty bobbins. Child labor. Industrial revolution

The Rise of the Machines: Pros and Cons of the Industrial Revolution

moon: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Astronomers Discover 128 New Moons Orbiting Saturn, Cementing the Planet's Title of 'Moon King' • Mar. 12, 2025, 12:27 PM ET (Smithsonian Magazine)

Photos and Videos

False-colour image of Saturn. Three of its satellites (Tethys, Dione, and Rhea) are visible as bright points on the left; a fourth moon, Mimas, can be seen in front of Saturn, below the ring system. This image is based on observations made by the Voyager spacecraft.

Three of the satellites of Uranus discovered by the Voyager 2 spacecraft are shown in an image taken Jan. 18, 1986.The largest of the satellites, 1986U1 (lower right), is about 90 km (55 miles) in diameter. In the upper right is the outermost ring of Uranus.

False-colour images of the ring and satellites of Saturn, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, Nov. 21, 1995. The satellite Dione appears just above the rings in the first two images; Mimas is visible at the outer edge of the rings; and other moons are visible near Saturn's disk on the right.

Know about the moons of the solar system and giant impact hypothesis explaining the formation of the Earth's Moon

Explore the phases of the Moon and their effectiveness in tracking time

Discover facts about the Moon with an explanation of the supermoon phenomenon

See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Topics

Moon libration Roche limit co-orbital satellite shepherd satellite What Are the Phases of the Moon?earthshine dark side of the Moon ray gardening star small body space debris satellite dwarf planet Mars extrasolar planet Saturn Earth satellite Jupiter

Quiz

Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.

All About Astronomy

The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet

Space Odyssey

1 July 2002: The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite reveals a massive solar eruption more than 30 times the Earth's diameter. The eruption formed when a loop of a magnetic field over the surface of the Sun trapped hot gas.

Brightest Star in the Solar System

Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.

All About Astronomy

Demystified

Colorful winter sunset

What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?