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Moon

In: Science

Submitted By Mohsinshaikh
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Moon This article is about Earth's Moon. For moons in general, see Natural satellite. For other uses, see Moon (disambiguation).

The Moon

Full moon as seen from Earth's northern hemisphere

Designations

Adjective lunar, selenic

Orbital characteristics

Perigee 362,570 km (0.0024 AU) (356,400–370,400 km)

Apogee 405,410 km (0.0027 AU) (404,000–406,700 km)

Semi-major axis 384,399 km (0.00257 AU)[1]

Eccentricity 0.0549[1]

Orbital period 27.321582 d (27 d 7 h 43.1 min[1])

Synodic period 29.530589 d (29 d 12 h 44 min 2.9 s)

Average orbital speed 1.022 km/s

Inclination 5.145° to the ecliptic[2] (between 18.29° and 28.58° to Earth's equator)[1]

Longitude of ascending node regressing by one revolution in 18.6 years

Argument of perigee progressing by one revolution in 8.85 years

Satellite of Earth

Physical characteristics

Mean radius 1,737.10 km (0.273 Earths)[1][3]

Equatorial radius 1,738.14 km (0.273 Earths)[3]

Polar radius 1,735.97 km (0.273 Earths)[3]

Flattening 0.00125

Circumference 10,921 km (equatorial)

Surface area 3.793 × 107 km2 (0.074 Earths)

Volume 2.1958 × 1010 km3 (0.020 Earths)

Mass 7.3477 × 1022 kg (0.0123 Earths[1])

Mean density 3.3464 g/cm3[1]

Equatorial surface gravity 1.622 m/s2 (0.165 4 g)

Escape velocity 2.38 km/s

Sidereal rotation period 27.321582 d (synchronous)

Equatorial rotation velocity 4.627 m/s

Axial tilt 1.5424° (to ecliptic) 6.687° (to orbit plane)[2]

Albedo 0.136[4]

Surface temp. equator 85°N[5]

min mean max

100 K 220 K 390 K

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