Quick facts about the moon
How far away it is: An average of 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers) from our planet
How big it is: 2,159 miles (3,475 km) across, or about one-fourth our planet's size
How old it is: About 4.4 billion years old
The moon is our constant companion and the only natural object that always orbits Earth. It's about four times smaller than Earth and its gravity is much weaker, which is why astronauts bounce around on it like a trampoline. But even though our moon is relatively small, it still has a big effect on our planet. The moon is why our oceans have tides, and it may even help stabilize Earth's tilt and rotation, keeping the lengths of our days and seasons the same. Read on to learn more fascinating facts about the moon.
