Exploring the Moon
A history of lunar discovery from the first
space probes to recent times
Map of lunar landings
This map shows touchdown or impact points of the Soviet Luna 2, Luna 9, Luna 13, Luna 16, Luna 17, Luna 20, Luna 21, and Luna 24 probes; US Surveyor 1, Surveyor 3, Surveyor 5, Surveyor 6, and Surveyor 7; and the Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17 missions. Click on the map for a larger version.
Map of lunar landings
MOON DATA
Diameter
3,475 km = 2,159 miles (0.27 times Earth)
Distance from Earth
384,400 km = 238,900 miles
Time to orbit Earth
27.3 days
Time to spin on axis
27.3 days
Mass
0.0123 times that of Earth (81 times less)
Average density
3.3 times water
Surface gravity
One-sixth that of Earth