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The Moon

Photo: Gregory H. Revera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Earth's Moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system, with a diameter of 3,474 kilometers — roughly one-quarter the size of Earth. Located at an average distance of 384,399 kilometers from our planet, the Moon completes its orbit every 29.5 days while remaining tidally locked, always showing the same face to Earth. Its surface is scarred by billions of years of asteroid and meteorite impacts, creating the distinctive craters, maria (dark plains), and highlands visible to the naked eye. The Moon's gravitational influence drives Earth's tides and has gradually slowed our planet's rotation over geological time. Some Ancient Aliens theorists have examined anomalies in lunar photography, proposing that certain surface features and geometric patterns could indicate artificial structures placed by extraterrestrial visitors, or even suggest the Moon itself may be an engineered construct. However, extensive Apollo mission data and decades of orbital imagery analysis show these features are consistent with natural geological processes—impact craters, lava tube collapses, and erosion patterns that match formations found on other airless bodies throughout the solar system. The Moon's formation from a giant impact event roughly 4.5 billion years ago, confirmed through radiometric dating of Apollo samples, aligns with planetary formation models rather than evidence of artificial placement.

Timeline

c. 4.5 billion years ago

Moon forms from debris following a Mars-sized object's collision with early Earth

c. 3.9 billion years ago

Late Heavy Bombardment creates many of the Moon's largest impact basins

1969

Apollo 11 mission achieves first human lunar landing and sample collection

2009

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter begins comprehensive mapping of lunar surface

What the Show Claims

›NASA lunar photography contains evidence of extraterrestrial structures on the Moon's surface
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›The Moon itself may be an artificial object placed by otherworldly beings thousands of years ago
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›Unusual objects and anomalies in lunar imagery suggest non-natural origins
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Theorist Takes

“When the secret space program began to travel to other bodies in our solar system, they were finding ancient structures. They quickly dubbed the people that built these structures "the ancient builder race."”

GOODES12E09The Majestic Twelve

From the Transcripts

“You can find all the proof you want that there are ancient extraterrestrial inhabitations of the planet Mars and our own Moon just by looking at the NASA pictures. You'll see pyramids, you'll see bridges.”

S12E09The Majestic Twelve

What Archaeology Says

Unlike terrestrial archaeology, lunar "archaeology" consists primarily of remote sensing and the analysis of samples returned by Apollo missions and robotic probes. Six Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972 brought back 842 pounds of lunar rocks and soil, providing unprecedented insight into the Moon's composition and formation. These samples, along with meteorites of lunar origin found on Earth, reveal a body formed through catastrophic impact rather than gradual accretion.

Modern lunar exploration relies heavily on orbital reconnaissance. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2009, has mapped the entire lunar surface at unprecedented resolution, cataloging impact craters, mineral deposits, and geological features. The probe's detailed imagery has revealed natural explanations for many formations previously considered anomalous, including the geometric patterns that some interpret as artificial structures.

The scientific consensus, based on decades of study, supports the Giant Impact Hypothesis — that the Moon formed when a Mars-sized object collided with early Earth approximately 4.5 billion years ago. The Moon's composition, orbital characteristics, and the Earth-Moon system's angular momentum all support this natural origin. Features interpreted as artificial structures consistently prove to be natural geological formations, shadows, or imaging artifacts when examined at higher resolution.

While the Moon's formation and early history are well understood, mysteries remain about its internal structure and the precise timeline of major impact events. The far side of the Moon, permanently hidden from Earth, continues to yield surprises, including the discovery of a massive impact basin at the lunar south pole and unusual mineral concentrations that suggest a complex geological history.

Mysteries & Fun Facts

The Moon moves approximately 3.8 centimeters farther from Earth each year due to tidal interactions

One day on the Moon lasts about 29.5 Earth days, with temperatures ranging from 127°C in sunlight to -173°C in shadow

The Moon's gravity is only one-sixth that of Earth's, which would allow a person to jump six times higher than on our planet

Twelve humans have walked on the Moon's surface, all between 1969 and 1972, and their footprints remain preserved in the airless environment

Planning a Visit

Getting There

The Moon remains accessible only to trained astronauts, though commercial lunar tourism may become available in the coming decades. For earthbound observers, the Moon offers spectacular viewing opportunities with even basic telescopes or binoculars, revealing crater details, mountain ranges, and the stark boundary between light and shadow.

Nearest City

Varies by observer location on Earth, approximately 384,399 kilometers away

Best Time to Visit

The Moon is best observed during its waxing or waning phases when shadows enhance surface features, rather than during the full moon when harsh lighting flattens details.

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