Earth’s companionOur World

Moon

Follow our Moon from its ancient formation to telescopes, landers and returned samples.

Subject guide · scope, chapters & sources ↗

A selective natural and exploration history, ending with the 2024 far-side sample return. Ancient ages are rounded; exploration dates mark particular observations or mission achievements, not the discovery of a previously unknown Moon.

Official Earth time scaleSelect an eon on the road to reveal its eras.ICS 2026/06 ↗

c. 4.5 billion years agoEarth–Moon system

An impact origin for the Moon

A violent encounter helps shape the Earth–Moon system.

Illustration of a large body colliding with the young Earth. — NASA · NASA editorial media-use permission

c. 4.2–1.2 billion years agoMoon

Lava fills the lunar seas

Volcanic plains create many of the Moon’s dark patches.

Full-Moon photomosaic with dark regions contrasting against lighter cratered areas. — NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio; Ernie Wright; LRO imagery · NASA editorial media-use permission

1609Italy / Moon

A telescope reveals a rugged Moon

Galileo observes mountains and pits rather than a smooth sphere.

Five historical drawings of the Moon’s illuminated and shadowed surface. — Galileo Galilei · Public domain

September 1959Soviet Union / Moon

Luna 2 reaches the lunar surface

A Soviet spacecraft strikes the Moon.

7 October 1959 · UTCSoviet Union / Moon

The far side enters the picture

Luna 3 photographs terrain hidden from Earth.

2 June 1966 · UTCUnited States / Moon

Surveyor 1 lands gently

An American robotic lander sends back surface pictures.

Two overlapping Surveyor images showing a rock on the lunar surface. — NASA · Public domain (NASA)

21 July 1969 · UTCMoon

The first human footprints on the Moon

Armstrong steps onto the surface; Aldrin follows.

Buzz Aldrin standing on the Moon with Armstrong reflected in his visor. — Neil Armstrong / NASA · Public domain

26 October 2020Moon / United States

Water molecules in sunlit lunar soil

SOFIA distinguishes water from hydroxyl.

Oblique rendered view across the cratered floor and rim of Clavius. — NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio; Ernie Wright · NASA editorial media-use permission

23 August 2023India / Moon

Chandrayaan-3 makes a soft landing

India’s mission reaches the lunar surface.

Annotated orbital image marking the Chandrayaan-3 lander on the cratered lunar surface. — NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center / Arizona State University · NASA editorial media-use permission

25 June 2024China / Moon

Far-side samples return to Earth

Chang’e 6 brings back material from the hemisphere facing away from Earth.