How many moons does Earth have? - New Scientist
The moon is Earth’s only permanent natural satellite, but other objects could be considered honorary moons. ... When Earth first formed, around 4.5 billion years ago, it had no moons, but that ...
Earth's moon - New Scientist
The moon doesn’t have a thick atmosphere, its gravity is about 17 per cent that of Earth’s, and its temperatures swing from a blistering 127°C in the sunlight to a frigid 173°C in the dark.
Earth had a temporary mini-moon that was a chunk of the real moon
Dec 17, 2024 · A huge rock orbiting near Earth appears to have originated from the moon, the second such object known to exist, with maybe more than a dozen awaiting discovery. The asteroid, called 2024 PT5, is ...
Earth has acquired a brand new moon that's about the size of a car
Feb 26, 2020 · Earth might have a tiny new moon. On 19 February, astronomers at the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona spotted a dim object moving quickly across the sky. Over the next few days, researchers at six ...
Science with Sam: What would happen if there was no moon?
Jun 8, 2021 · The prevailing theory of the moon’s formation suggests that around 4.5 billion years ago, a Mars-sized boulder called Theia slammed into Earth, vaporising much, if not all of it, flinging out ...
Launching a huge dust cloud from the moon could ease global …
Feb 8, 2023 · Launching a million tonnes of moon dust around Earth could dim sunlight across our planet by 1.8 per cent. This would reduce the global temperature, but whether it would be worth the resources ...
Why moon missions in 2024 could reveal both our history and our …
Jan 9, 2024 · Several moon missions are planned for 2024, including some that will attempt to mine for ice on the moon and test out new lunar rovers – and they can teach us about Earth’s history By Leah Crane
Slicing the moon in half would be disastrous for Earth – but beautiful
Oct 10, 2023 · The consequences of cracking the moon open would be fairly destructive overall. It could create a fiery rain of lunar fragments with the potential to end life on Earth, and the moon’s influence ...
Why we must investigate Phobos, the solar system's strangest object
5 days ago · Mars's moon Phobos is so strange that no one knows how it formed. But a forthcoming mission could solve this mystery - and a host of other puzzles connected to the solar system's deep past
Moon's south pole revealed in 'dramatic' new 3D map
Feb 27, 2008 · Earth-based radar observations have produced a detailed 3D map of the Moon’s south polar region, revealing a dramatic and rugged landscape. The map will help NASA assess the site’s potential ...