Lunar facts: Get up close and personal with our Moon

The Moon is at the centre of everyone's attention with countries like India, US, China and others targeting it with a number of missions. Here are some moon facts you should know.

Earth's Moon is the only place where humans have set foot outside earth. Up close, it is the brightest and the largest object in our night sky. If a single green pea is set next to a US nickel then you will have an idea about the size of the moon. (REUTERS)

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1/7 Earth's Moon is the only place where humans have set foot outside earth. Up close, it is the brightest and the largest object in our night sky. If a single green pea is set next to a US nickel then you will have an idea about the size of the moon. (REUTERS)

The moon is moderating earth's wobble around its axis.  Which results in the earth having a stable climate. Tides are also created because of the moon. It even sets a rhythm that has guided humans for many years. (NASA)

2/7 The moon is moderating earth's wobble around its axis.  Which results in the earth having a stable climate. Tides are also created because of the moon. It even sets a rhythm that has guided humans for many years. (NASA)

According to one theory, Moon was formed after a collision of Mars type of body with Earth. Earth's moon is the fifth largest planet among more than 200 planets orbiting in the solar system. It is also the earth's natural satellite. (AP)

3/7 According to one theory, Moon was formed after a collision of Mars type of body with Earth. Earth's moon is the fifth largest planet among more than 200 planets orbiting in the solar system. It is also the earth's natural satellite. (AP)

It was not known to people that other moons also existed until Galileo Galilei discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter in 1610. (AFP)

4/7 It was not known to people that other moons also existed until Galileo Galilei discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter in 1610. (AFP)

Moon is currently being explored by three robotic spacecraft. One is the Lunar Reconnaissance orbiter other one is the Armetis spacecraft. More than a hundred robotic spacecraft have been launched to explore the moon. (Reuters)

5/7 Moon is currently being explored by three robotic spacecraft. One is the Lunar Reconnaissance orbiter other one is the Armetis spacecraft. More than a hundred robotic spacecraft have been launched to explore the moon. (Reuters)

It goes around the earth at a distance of about 239000 miles. The earth and moon are so tidally locked and in sync that we only see one side of the moon. Humans didn't see the lunar far side until a Soviet spacecraft flew past in  1959. (AFP)

6/7 It goes around the earth at a distance of about 239000 miles. The earth and moon are so tidally locked and in sync that we only see one side of the moon. Humans didn't see the lunar far side until a Soviet spacecraft flew past in  1959. (AFP)

The moon's surface is hard and rocky. And its whole surface has holes because of asteroid comets and collisions with other heavenly bodies. Moon has a thin and very weak atmosphere. One cannot breathe there. (AP)

7/7 The moon's surface is hard and rocky. And its whole surface has holes because of asteroid comets and collisions with other heavenly bodies. Moon has a thin and very weak atmosphere. One cannot breathe there. (AP)