Moon Facts For Kids 2026: 20 Amazing Space Discoveries

The Moon has fascinated children and adults for thousands of years. That bright silver circle in our night sky holds countless mysteries and wonders waiting to be discovered. From ancient civilizations who worshipped it as a god to modern astronauts who walked on its surface, the Moon continues to capture our imagination.

The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite – a large rocky companion that orbits our planet while reflecting sunlight to create the beautiful glow we see at night. Kids who learn about space often start with the Moon because it’s the most visible and interesting object in our night sky.

Understanding the Moon helps us appreciate our place in the universe and teaches us about gravity, orbits, and the delicate balance that makes life possible on Earth. These moon facts will spark curiosity and wonder in young minds.

In this guide, you’ll discover amazing facts about our Moon, learn why it changes shape, find out how it affects Earth, and explore fun activities you can do to learn more about Earth’s space companion.

What Exactly is the Moon?

The Moon is like Earth’s big space friend that travels around us in a cosmic dance. Think of it as a giant rock in space – about one-quarter the size of Earth – that doesn’t make its own light. Instead, it acts like a giant mirror, reflecting sunlight toward Earth so we can see it shining in our night sky.

Scientists believe the Moon formed 4.5 billion years ago when a Mars-sized object crashed into early Earth. The impact blasted tons of rock into space, which eventually clumped together due to gravity to create the Moon. That’s why Moon rocks brought back by astronauts are very similar to rocks on Earth!

The Moon’s surface is covered with craters – big bowl-shaped holes created when space rocks called meteorites crashed into it over billions of years. Unlike Earth, the Moon doesn’t have weather or atmosphere to wear away these craters, so they remain perfectly preserved, telling the story of cosmic collisions throughout history.

20 Amazing Moon Facts You’ll Love

Get ready to discover some incredible facts about the Moon that will blow your mind!

1. The Moon is 238,855 miles away – That’s like driving around Earth nearly 10 times in a car!
2. The Moon is shrinking – It has gotten about 150 feet smaller over the last few hundred million years.
3. Your weight on the Moon would be 1/6 of Earth – If you weigh 60 pounds on Earth, you’d only weigh 10 pounds on the Moon!
4. The Moon has moonquakes Just like earthquakes, but much smaller and less frequent.
5. The Moon moves away from Earth – It’s drifting away at 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches) each year.
6. There’s no sound on the Moon – Without air, sound waves can’t travel.
7. The Moon has extreme temperatures – 260°F (127°C) in sunlight and -280°F (-173°C) in darkness.
8. Only 12 people have walked on the Moon – All were American astronauts from the Apollo missions.
9. The Moon’s footprint lasts forever – No wind or rain to wear them away.
10. The Moon causes ocean tides – Its gravity pulls on Earth’s oceans, creating high and low tides.
11. Earth’s Moon is the 5th largest moon in our solar system – It’s bigger than Pluto!
12. The Moon has water ice – Frozen water exists in permanently shadowed craters.
13. The Moon rotates at the same speed it orbits – That’s why we always see the same side!
14. The Moon is made of similar material to Earth – Supporting the giant impact theory.
15. The Moon affects Earth’s axis – It keeps Earth’s tilt stable, giving us regular seasons.
16. Full moons have names – Like “Harvest Moon” and “Blue Moon” based on the season.
17. The Moon is dark – It actually reflects less light than asphalt!
18. The Moon has mountains taller than Everest – Some peaks reach over 20,000 feet.
19. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon turns red – Often called a “Blood Moon.”
20. The Moon influences animal behavior – Many creatures hunt or migrate based on moon phases.

Why Does the Moon Change Shape?

The Moon appears to change shape throughout the month in a pattern called “moon phases.” But here’s the secret – the Moon doesn’t actually change shape at all! It’s always a round sphere. What changes is how much of its sunlit side we can see from Earth.

Think of it like this: Imagine you’re in a dark room with a ball. Someone shines a flashlight on the ball from different angles. Sometimes you’ll see the whole lit side (full moon), sometimes just a sliver (crescent moon), and sometimes none of the lit side (new moon). The Sun is like the flashlight, Earth is where you’re standing, and the Moon is the ball.

As the Moon orbits Earth once every 27.3 days, we see different portions of its sunlit surface. The complete cycle takes about 29.5 days from one new moon to the next. Here are the main moon phases in order:

• New Moon: The Moon is between Earth and Sun – we can’t see it
• Waxing Crescent: A small sliver appears and grows
• First Quarter: We see half the Moon lit up
• Waxing Gibbous: More than half is lit, growing
• Full Moon: The entire side facing Earth is lit up
• Waning Gibbous: Still mostly lit but shrinking
• Last Quarter: Half lit, but the opposite side
• Waning Crescent: Small sliver that disappears

How Does the Moon Affect Earth?

The Moon might seem far away, but it has powerful effects on our planet every single day. The most obvious effect is ocean tides. The Moon’s gravity pulls on Earth’s oceans, creating bulges of water that follow the Moon as Earth rotates. This causes high tides in areas facing the Moon and on the opposite side of Earth.

The Moon also acts like Earth’s balance partner. Without the Moon’s gravity, Earth would wobble wildly on its axis, causing extreme and unpredictable climate changes. The Moon keeps Earth’s tilt steady at about 23.5 degrees, giving us regular seasons and relatively stable weather patterns.

Many animals rely on moonlight too. Sea turtles use moonlight to find their way to the ocean after hatching, coral reefs spawn based on moon phases, and predators like lions and owls hunt more successfully during full moons when there’s more light to see by.

Have Humans Visited the Moon?

Yes! Between 1969 and 1972, twelve American astronauts walked on the Moon during NASA’s Apollo missions. The first was Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969, when he famously said “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

These brave explorers collected 842 pounds of Moon rocks, took thousands of photographs, and conducted scientific experiments that helped us understand our solar system better. The last astronauts to visit were Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt in 1972, and no humans have been back since.

Today, space agencies around the world are planning to return to the Moon. NASA’s Artemis program aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2026, setting up a base camp for future exploration and maybe even a stepping stone for missions to Mars!

Fun Moon Activities for Kids

Learning about the Moon isn’t just about reading facts – here are some fun activities to explore the Moon yourself:

Start a Moon Journal

Draw the Moon every night for a month. You’ll see the phases change with your own eyes! Note the weather and what time you observed it too.

Make Moon Craters

Fill a shallow pan with flour or cocoa powder, then drop different sized marbles or rocks from various heights to see how impact craters form. This shows how the Moon got its bumpy surface!

Oreo Moon Phases

Use Oreo cookies to show all the moon phases. Twist off the top cookie and use a spoon to scrape away the white filling to match each phase. Best of all – you can eat your astronomy lesson when you’re done!

Moon Observation Night

With your parents’ help, use binoculars to look at the Moon. You’ll see craters and mountains that are invisible to the naked eye. The best time to observe is during the first quarter or last quarter phases when shadows make details stand out.

Looking for the perfect best astronomy books for young stargazers can enhance your moon observation experience. These books often come with star charts and moon maps that help identify features.

For families interested in more advanced observation, consider checking out astronomy gifts for moon watching like telescopes or moon filters that can make your lunar exploration even more exciting.

Could You Live on the Moon?

Living on the Moon would be incredibly challenging! The Moon has almost no atmosphere – the air is about 100 trillion times thinner than Earth’s. This means no oxygen to breathe, no protection from the Sun’s radiation, and no air pressure to keep your body’s water from boiling away.

Temperatures on the Moon swing dramatically between 260°F (127°C) in direct sunlight and -280°F (-173°C) in shadow. Without proper protection, you’d freeze or burn in seconds. That’s why astronauts wear specially designed spacesuits that provide oxygen, control temperature, and protect from radiation.

Future moon bases would likely be built underground or covered with moon soil to protect from radiation and extreme temperatures. Scientists are working on ways to use the Moon’s water ice for drinking and creating rocket fuel, making long-term lunar living possible!

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep Exploring Space!

The Moon is just the beginning of your space adventure. By learning about our Moon, you’re taking the first steps toward understanding our amazing universe. Remember, every astronaut and scientist started as a curious kid looking up at the night sky with wonder.

Keep asking questions, observing the Moon, and exploring space through books, apps, and activities. Who knows? Maybe someday you’ll help future astronauts return to the Moon or even travel to Mars! For more space adventures and educational resources, check out space toys that teach about the moon and other astronomy tools that make learning fun.

The universe is full of amazing discoveries waiting for curious minds like yours. Never stop exploring!

For more space and astronomy guides, visit ShuttlePress Kit – A Blog about Space, Astronomy & Stargazing where you’ll find resources for young astronomers and their families.