Caelum
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Kinda cloudy but it still came out pretty good

Kinda cloudy but it still came out pretty good

Capture

Date
2026 · 04 · 24
Target
Moon
Class
Moon

The Moon, Earth's only natural satellite, is a prominent celestial body with a diameter of about 3,474 kilometers. It orbits Earth at an average distance of approximately 384,400 kilometers. The Moon's surface is characterized by its contrasting regions: the dark, basaltic plains known as maria and the brighter, heavily cratered highlands. The maria were formed by ancient volcanic activity and cover about 16% of the lunar surface.

The surface is marked by numerous impact craters, with notable examples including Tycho, Copernicus, and Clavius. The Moon has no atmosphere, resulting in extreme temperature variations from about -173°C at night to 127°C during the day. The terminator, the line dividing the illuminated and dark halves of the Moon, shifts as the Moon orbits Earth, revealing different surface features over the course of its 29.5-day synodic period.

The Moon's gravitational influence is responsible for Earth's tides and stabilizes the planet's axial tilt. Its surface is covered by a layer of regolith, a fine, dusty material resulting from billions of years of micrometeorite impacts. The Moon's synchronous rotation means the same side always faces Earth, with the far side remaining largely unseen from our planet.