Synchronous Rotation: The Moon is tidally locked to Earth, meaning it takes the same amount of time to rotate on its axis as it does to orbit the Earth. This is why we always see the same face of the Moon from Earth.
Lunar "Seas": The dark patches on the Moon's surface are often referred to as "seas" or "maria" (Latin for "seas"), but they are actually ancient volcanic plains formed by lava flows billions of years ago.
Moonquakes: The Moon experiences moonquakes, which are seismic tremors similar to earthquakes but caused by the gravitational forces between the Earth and the Moon, as well as the cooling and contraction of the lunar crust.
Extreme Temperatures: The Moon has extreme temperature variations, ranging from about -173°C (-280°F) during the lunar night to about 127°C (260°F) during the lunar day, due to its lack of atmosphere to retain heat.
Lunar Water: While the Moon was long thought to be dry, recent discoveries have revealed the presence of water ice in permanently shadowed regions near the lunar poles. This discovery has implications for future lunar exploration and potential resource utilization.
Lunar Atmosphere: Although extremely thin and virtually nonexistent compared to Earth's atmosphere, the Moon does have a tenuous exosphere consisting of trace amounts of gases like helium, neon, hydrogen, and argon.
Lunar Dust: The lunar surface is covered in a layer of fine dust, known as lunar regolith, created by billions of years of meteorite impacts and micrometeoroid bombardment. This dust can be abrasive and hazardous to spacecraft and equipment.
Lunar Eclipses: Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon's surface. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon can take on a reddish hue due to sunlight refracted through Earth's atmosphere, leading to the phenomenon known as a "blood moon."