Formation
Scientists are not completely sure what caused creation of the Moon, but the leading theory suggests that 4.5 billion years ago Mars-sized body collided with Earth, sending debris in the orbit around it. Within around 100 million years, molten rocks finally crystallized, creating our natural satelite 384,000km (239,000mi) away.Movement
The Moon is rotating, revolving around the Earth, and with Earth around the Sun at the same time. As its rotation rate and rate of revolving around the Earth are same, we always face the same side of it. That synchronous rotation causes what we call "phases". When the side we face is completely illuminated by the Sun, it's a "full moon", and when that is the case with the opposite side, it's a "new moon".Structure and surface
Structure of the Moon is divided into three parts: core, mantle and crust.The core is primarily made of iron, both in solid and liquid state. The mantle contains minerals, like olivine and pyroxene, made of magnesium, iron, silicon and oxygen. The top layer, crust, is similar to the mantle, but also contains aluminium, titanium, uranium, thorium, potassium and hydrogen.
As the Moon has no atmosphere, it is constantly exposed to the strikes that leave numerous craters. One of the biggest is Tycho crater, with 85km (52mi) in width. Those strikes are the reason why the surface is covered with dust.
Another consequence of lack of atmosphere is range of temperatures on the surface, a lot bigger than on Earth. It reaches 127°C (260°F) on the sunny side, and -173°C (-280°F) on the dark side.
