On This Day
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Galileo spacecraft passes North Pole of Moon (Peary Crater)

The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It orbits around Earth at an average distance of 384,399 kilometres (238,854 mi), a distance roughly 30 times the width of Earth.

The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It orbits around Earth at an average distance of 384,399 kilometres (238,854 mi), a distance roughly 30 times the width of Earth. It completes an orbit (lunar month) in relation to Earth and the Sun (synodically) every 29.5 days. The Moon and Earth are bound by gravitational attraction, which is stronger on the sides facing each other. The resulting tidal forces are the main driver of Earth's tides, and have pulled the Moon to always face Earth with the same near side. This tidal locking effectively synchronizes the Moon's rotation period (lunar day) to its orbital period (lunar month).

In geophysical terms, the Moon is a planetary-mass object or satellite planet.

Historical Significance

The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth.

Events Before

  1. Peter Burling is born

    Peter Burling, New Zealand athlete, known for new zealand sailor, was born on 1991-01-01. Peter Burling is a New Zealand sailor.

  2. 5% sales tax on consumer goods and services goes into effect in the USSR

    The history of the United States from 1980 until 1991 includes the last year of the Jimmy Carter presidency, eight years of the Ronald Reagan administration, and the first three years of the George...

  3. Baseball officially bans Pete Rose from being elected to the Hall of Fame for betting on baseball

    Peter Edward Rose Sr. (April 14, 1941 – September 30, 2024), nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", was an American professional baseball player and manager.

  4. Operation Desert Storm begins, with US-led coalition forces bombing Iraq, during the Gulf War

    The Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the United States.

  5. CBS News correspondent Bob Simon and four TV crew members are captured and held for 40 days by Iraqi forces during the G

    CBS News correspondent Bob Simon and four TV crew members are captured and held for 40 days by Iraqi forces during the Gulf War

Events After

  1. Bryson Tiller is born

    Bryson Tiller musician, known for american singer, was born on 1993-01-02. Bryson Djuan Tiller is an American R&B singer and rapper.

  2. "Farewell My Concubine," directed by Chen Kaige from a novel by Lilian Lee, starring Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, and Go

    "Farewell My Concubine," directed by Chen Kaige from a novel by Lilian Lee, starring Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi, and Gong Li, premieres in Hong Kong (wins Cannes Palme d'Or 1993)

  3. Brian Lara scores his maiden Test century with 277 for the West Indies v Australia in drawn 3rd Test at the Sydney Crick

    Brian Lara scores his maiden Test century with 277 for the West Indies v Australia in drawn 3rd Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground

  4. Michael Jordan's game-high 35 points leads Chicago Bulls to a 120-95 win over Milwaukee Bucks, giving him exactly 20,000

    Michael Jordan's game-high 35 points leads Chicago Bulls to a 120-95 win over Milwaukee Bucks, giving him exactly 20,000 points in the 620th game of his NBA career, the second-fastest to reach this milestone after Wilt Chamberlain (499)

  5. US Senator Mitch McConnell (51) weds businesswoman Elaine Chao (39)

    US Senator Mitch McConnell (51) weds businesswoman Elaine Chao (39)

More from the 1990s

birth

Bryson Tiller is born

Bryson Tiller musician, known for american singer, was born on 1993-01-02. Bryson Djuan Tiller is an American R&B singer and rapper.

death

Alan Hale Jr. dies

Alan Hale Jr., American actor, known for american actor, died on 1990-01-02. Alan Hale Jr. was an American actor and restaurateur.

birth

Poppy [Moriah Rose Pereira] is born

Poppy [Moriah Rose Pereira] is born

birth

Peter Burling is born

Peter Burling, New Zealand athlete, known for new zealand sailor, was born on 1991-01-01. Peter Burling is a New Zealand sailor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 7, 1992?
The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth. It orbits around Earth at an average distance of 384,399 kilometres (238,854 mi), a distance roughly 30 times the width of Earth. It completes an orbit (lunar month) in relation to Earth and the Sun (synodically) every 29.5 days.
Why is Galileo spacecraft passes North Pole of Moon (Peary Crater) significant?
The Moon is the only natural satellite of Earth.

Explore More

December 7 in HistoryYear 1992