Image: Comparison of the earth and moon diameters (27 % compared to the earth). File created by NASA, in the public domain.
The Moon is Earth's closest celestial neighbor and has a fascinating history. About 4.5 billion years ago, when our solar system was forming, large clouds of gas and dust came together to form stars, planets, and moons.
It is believed that the Moon was formed from debris that broke off from the Earth after a collision with another protoplanet around 4.4 billion years ago. This collision created a massive amount of rocks and debris that were ejected into space. These debris then came together to form a disk of debris orbiting around the Earth.
Over time, the debris began to clump and stick together to form larger rocks called protolunes. These protolunes then merged together to form a complete moon.
It is thought that the Moon was formed much closer to Earth than it is now and has been moving further away over time. The gravity of the Moon also affects the tides on Earth.
The Moon has a rocky surface and is devoid of an atmosphere. It is very important to life on Earth as it regulates the tides and also affects the sleep cycles of animals and humans.
In summary, the Moon was formed from debris that broke off from the Earth after a collision with another protoplanet around 4.4 billion years ago. These debris then came together to form a complete moon.
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