15 Unbelievable Moon Facts You Won’t Find Anywhere Else - FactsLook

The Moon formed about 4.5 billion years ago when a Mars-sized body called Theia collided with Earth. This giant impact sprayed debris into space, which coalesced into our planet's companion. The theory explains lunar similarities to Earth's composition. Surprisingly, the collision may even have tilted Earth's axis, influencing seasons. (NASA/JPL) Learn more here: [NASA’s Moon Formation Theory](https://moon.nasa.gov/resources/28/)

The far side of the Moon—never visible from Earth—receives just as much sunlight as the near side. The term "dark side" is misleading; tidal locking caused one side to permanently face Earth. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter revealed the far side has more craters due to thinner crust. Read more at [Space.com](https://www.space.com/moon-dark-side-facts)

Earth's tides create friction that transfers energy to the Moon, increasing its orbit by 3.8 cm yearly. In 600 million years, your descendants might see shorter days, as Earth’s rotation slows. (Source: Royal Observatory Greenwich) Planetaria's article explores this drift here: [Moon Drifting Apart](https://web.archive.org/web/20231001220024/https://planetaria.co/moon-may-live-into-the-solar-systems-senescence/)

Without weather or erosion processes on the Moon, human footprints from Apollo missions are preserved in their 1969 position. Even a spacecraft's shadow left by Surveyor 3 remains intact. This stability makes lunar artifacts as permanent as ancient rock formations on Earth! (Ref: [Smithsonian Magazine](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-long-will-the-apllo-moon-footprints-last-62064543/))

Because the Moon rotates on its axis at the same rate it orbits Earth, its day-night cycle spans roughly a month. A lunar sunrise doesn’t occur daily—Regions face darkness for 14 days straight, plunging temperatures to -173°C (-280°F). This extreme environment challenges future colonization efforts. (ESA’s Lunar Exploration details: [Moon Phases Explained](https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/luna/week_3))

The Moon hosts a volcano named Mons Huygens that's taller than Mount Everest (8 km vs. Everest's 8.8 km). Craters like Tycho’s rays can be seen from Earth. Selene’s beaches (composed of volcanic glass beads) rival Earth’s beauty. Japan’s Kaguya satellite captured these landscapes in shocking clarity. Check Kaguya Terrain Camera Images here: [SELENE Project](https://selebgo.pd.astro.scienc.jmu.ac.jp/)

Five Apollo-era retroflector arrays allow scientists to measure Earth-Moon distance to millimeter precision. By bouncing lasers off these mirrors, studies detect changes in lunar orbit. The Moon’s slight "wobble" was discovered using these tools, offering insights into its core structure. (NASA ILABS: [Lunar Ranging](https://moon.nasa.gov/missions/science/interdisciplinary/))

Seismic instruments detected shallow moonquakes caused by tectonic shifts, with some reaching magnitude 5.5! Unlike Earthquakes, these quakes can last 10 minutes due to less energy dissipation. These subtle tremors hint at a semi-rigid crust still adjusting. (Read: [USGS Lunar Seismology](https://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/quakes/))

NASA’s Surveyor 3 probe scooped lunar soil, returning samples via Apollo 12’s astronauts. The probe’s camera returned to Earth with microbes! Scientists were stunned—organisms survived 3 years in vacuum. Though later deemed contamination, this sparked new sterilization protocols for Mars missions. Source: [NASA History](https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4225/surveyor/)

Sidereal tidal bulges on the Moon’s solid surface cause ‘moonquakes.’ Gravitational forces pull regions 10 feet daily—a distortion visible via telescopes. This flexing generates heat via friction, contributing to lunar ‘warmth.’ (Explained by: [Nature Astronomy](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1017-4))

During totality, the Moon turns blood-red due to Earth’s atmosphere bending sunlight. The longest total lunar eclipse ever recorded (2018) lasted 103 minutes. These events enabled ancient astronomers to confirm the Earth’s round shape! (Calculated by [NASA Science](https://scijinks.gov/lunar_eclipse/))

Over 350 monthly meteorites originate from the Moon. Most were ejected by ancient asteroid impacts. The "Meteor Crater" in AZ was caused by asteroid, not lunar material—but some like the 1st Japanese meteorite prove interplanetary transport. (Ref: [Meteoritical Society](https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/achr/))

With 1/6th Earth’s gravity, astronauts jump 8 feet effortlessly. Competitors could leap into basketball hoops 12 feet tall without effort! However, without air resistance, Olympic pole vaulters might literally vault into space. (Animations: [NASA Education](https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/frenchchallenges/-educate-students-about-the-force-of-gravity-on-the-moon-and-on-venus-.html))

Lunar craters near poles never see sunlight, preserving water ice deposits. India’s Chandrayaan-1 confirmed water molecules in 2009. These ice reserves will enable future moon bases—critical for life support and rocket fuel. (Study: [Science Direct](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019103517306767))

During lunar perigee (closest approach), supermoons appear 14% larger. In the late 1960s, such proximity let Apollo moonwalks use ~27% less gravity. Astrometric calculations show this varied distance affects Earth’s axial precession. (Explore fluctuations at: [Phys.org’s Lunar Dynamics](https://phys.org/news/2013-03-moon-orbit-earth-lunar.html))