The moon: Facts about our planet's lunar companion
SMRTR summary
The moon, Earth's only natural satellite, orbits 238,855 miles away on average. About one-fourth Earth's size and 4.4 billion years old, it influences tides and possibly stabilizes Earth's tilt. The moon formed from debris after a massive object collided with early Earth, has a thin atmosphere, and is covered in craters and dark "maria." Humans first landed there in 1969.
SMRTR provides this summary for quick context. The original article belongs to Live Science.
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