La Luna, or the Moon, is Earth's only natural satellite. It is about 1/6th the size of Earth and is located approximately 238,855 miles away. The Moon has a surface covered with craters, mountains, and flat plains called maria, which were formed by ancient volcanic activity. The Moon goes through phases, including the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter, as it orbits Earth. This cycle takes about 29.5 days. The gravitational pull of the Moon also affects Earth's tides, creating high and low tides in the oceans.