The Moon

This image suggests how a "full" moon might appear from a position in space directly over the moon's east limb. The Earth lies out of view on the left, and beyond that the Sun. This moon would appear full only from the Earth's perspective, but from a position high over the east limb we see a last quarter moon, as well as a side of the moon that cannot be seen from the Earth (the moon, like all satellites in the Solar System, always keeps the same face pointed toward its host planet).

Like the planet Mercury, the Earth’s only satellite is void of atmosphere, barren and lifeless. Just a few days travel by current technology, the moon is the only solar system denizen beyond the Earth that humans have visited.

In this image, just above center is 300 mile diameter Mare Crisium, and the crater Cleomedes just north of that. In a line running south below center are the large craters Langrenus, Petavius, and Furnerius.