Our Moon, Earth's only natural satellite, is the fifth largest moon in the Solar System. With a diameter of 3,474 kilometers (2,159 miles), it's roughly one-quarter the size of Earth.
Size Comparisons:
- The Moon is smaller than the planet Mercury but larger than Pluto.
- It would take about 50 moons to equal Earth's volume.
- The Moon's surface area is similar to that of Africa.
Despite its smaller size, the Moon plays a crucial role in Earth's systems:
- Tides: The Moon's gravitational pull causes ocean tides.
- Rotation: It stabilizes Earth's axial tilt, contributing to our stable climate.
- Night sky: As the second-brightest celestial object after the Sun, it illuminates our nights.
The Moon's size allows it to retain a nearly spherical shape due to its own gravity, classifying it as a "planetary-mass object."
Interestingly, the Moon appears to be the same size as the Sun from Earth's perspective, enabling total solar eclipses – a cosmic coincidence that has fascinated humans for millennia.