THE MOON

FAST FACTS

■ Average distance from Earth: 384 400km

■ Orbital and rotation period: 27,32 Earth days

■ Equatorial radius: 1 737,5km

■ Mass: 0,012 of Earth’s mass (just more than 1%)

■ Surface gravity: 0,166 that of Earth’s (if your weight is 45kg on Earth, you’ll weigh only 7,5kg on the moon)

■ Temperature extremes: -248⁰C to 123⁰C

HUMANS have been fascinated with the moon for thousands of years. At full moon, people often gaze in wonder at the glowing disc in the night sky. Why does the moon shine? Why is it sometimes a thin