The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It orbits around Earth at an average distance of 384,399 kilometres (238,854 mi), [f] a distance roughly 30 times the width of Earth. It completes an orbit (lunar month) in relation to Earth and the Sun (synodically) every 29.5 days. The Moon and Earth are bound by gravitational attraction, which is stronger on the sides facing each other. The ...
The Moon makes Earth more livable, sets the rhythm of ocean tides, and keeps a record of our solar system's history. Explore NASA lunar science here.
Current moon phase, including information about its position, illumination, moonrise, and moonset.
Discover what we know about Earth's lunar companion with the latest moon news, features and articles.
Reference See what moon phase it is tonight and find out when you can see the rest of the moon phases for 2026. The Artemis 2 astronauts captured a unique image of the moon's "dark side" during ...
Explore the current phase of the moon, its rise and set times, nightly motion across the sky, and discover lunar features with our interactive map. Stay informed about the celestial movements above.
The moon phase today is calculated in real time using high-precision astronomical algorithms verified against NASA lunar ephemeris data. The calculator above shows current illumination, moonrise and moonset times for your location, lunar age in days, and the date of the next Full Moon. Use it to plan fishing and hunting trips around peak moonlight, or explore our lunar astrology section for ...
What is the moon made of, and how did it form? Learn about the moon's violent origins, how its phases shaped the earliest calendars, and how humans first explored Earth's only natural satellite half a century ago.