Q: What exactly is the Moon?

Moons are natural satellitesA satellite is a small object that orbits, or revolves around, a larger object in space.. They orbit asteroids and planets in our solar system. There are more than 200 moons across the solar system. The Earth only has one.

The Moon is made of rock and metal. Most scientists think it formed when a huge Mars-sized body crashed into Earth. 

Q: How did it get its name? 

The word Moon is related to a Latin word meaning to measure. This is because the Moon helps us measure the months. Its shape appears to change depending on the day. 

We call it the Moon because people thought there was only one in space. That was until 1610, when GalileoAn Italian astronomer of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. He clashed with the Catholic Church over his belief that the Earth revolves around the Sun, and was eventually forced to recant his views. discovered four moons orbiting Jupiter. 

Q: When was the first moon landing?

On 20 July 1969. Neil Armstrong was the first to step onto its surface. He was part of a mission called Apollo 11. It was a NasaThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme. mission. At the time, humans had only been exploring space for 12 years.

It was not the last lunarTo do with the Moon. landing. There have been six successful missions that have landed people on the Moon. 

Q: Why did astronauts stop going to the Moon?

The last mission to the Moon was in 1972. After that, there were no more trips. This was partly because the space race was over. 

It is also very expensive to go to the Moon. If there is nothing to find out, there is not much point in going. 

Q: Why are humans going back to the Moon?

In 2025, Nasa hopes to send another mission to the Moon. It is called the Artemis programme. 

Some people think this is because countries like the USA want to compete with China. But the Moon could also be useful for us. The astronauts will search for water and ice on the Moon, as well as important minerals and building materials. This could help us build a new colony in space. 

Q: Is Mars next? 

Nobody is sure. It took Neil Armstrong four days to travel to the Moon. It would take nine months to reach Mars. 

Anyone who makes it will face freezing temperatures and high winds. But some people are positive it can happen. Elon Musk says: "Mars is something we can do in our lifetimes."