Moon Facts - 10+ Unbelievable Facts about the Moon

Luna, or The Moon as we know it, is an astronomical body that orbits planet Earth. It's Earth's only permanent, natural satellite. Among all natural satellites in our Solar System, the Moon is the fifth largest. It is the largest among planetary satellites relative to the size of the planet that it orbits.

But most of that we all know... 

So, let's find some unbelievable and interesting facts about the moon!

1. Only one side of the moon is ever seen from the earth.

The moon is in synchronous rotation with the earth, meaning the moon rotates on its own axis in exactly the same time it takes to rotate around the earth. (See the first picture below)

2. The Moon is drifting away from the earth.

Gravitational forces between the earth's tides and the moon are the reason why the moon is drifting away from earth by about 4cm per year.

3. The rise and fall of earth's tides are caused by the moon.

4. You weigh much less on the moon than on earth.

Because of much weaker gravity on the moon than on earth, you will weigh about one-sixth of your normal weight on the moon.

5. Only 12 people have ever set foot on the moon.

6. The last time a human has set foot on the moon was in 1972.

The last man to walk the moon was Gene Cernan. He traced his only child's initials in the dust before climbing the ladder of the lunar module for the last time.

7. In 1958 the USA considered setting off a nuclear bomb on the moon.

8. A full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the sun. Its face is then fully illuminated by the sun.

9. Craters on the moon are named after scholars, scientists, artists, and explorers.

10. One person's ashes are "buried" on the moon.

Dr. Eugene M. Shoemaker's greatest unfulfilled dream was to go to the moon. His ashes were launched into a lunar orbit on the Lunar Prospector. When the spacecraft's battery failed at the end of its lifetime it, together with its special payload, crashed to the moon.