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A '''moon''' is a body which orbits a [[planet]]. The [[Earth]]'s Moon (sometimes known as "Luna") is a natural [[satellite]] orbiting Earth at an average distance of about 238,000 miles (380,000&nbsp;km). It is the basis for our monthly calendar: a full moon occurs roughly once per month.<ref>https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/the-splendor-of-gods-creation/</ref>

A '''moon''' is a body of mass which orbits a [[planet]]. A moon can also orbit another moon, creating a [[moon moon]] - this is theoretically repeatable, but anything past a moon moon is likely in an unstable orbit. The [[Earth]]'s Moon (sometimes known as "Luna") is a natural [[satellite]] orbiting Earth at an average distance of about 238,000 miles (380,000&nbsp;km), The orbital speed of the moon, combining with the reflection of sunlight creates what we know as "phases of the moon". This in turn is the basis for our monthly calendar: a full/new moon occurs roughly once per month.<ref>https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/the-splendor-of-gods-creation/</ref>

The Moon is unique in the solar system in its large relative size compared with the [[Earth]]. The Moon appears from the Earth to be the same size as the [[sun]], in perfect artistic symmetry, unlike any known other planet-moon system.  Moreover, unlike most planets in the [[solar system]], [[Earth]] has only one moon, which is designed in two remarkable ways: (1) it rotates and revolves such that only one side is ever visible to the Earth (the only known moon with this characteristic)<ref>Some attribute the remarkable orbit and rotation of the Moon as being due to tidal locking.</ref> and (2) its side that faces the Earth is smooth, while the side that remains hidden is jagged.  To those on [[Earth]], the Moon appears as an artistic disc that goes through phases of varying visibility from Earth.

Our Moon is unique in the solar system in its large relative size compared with the [[Earth]]. The Moon appears from the Earth to be the same size as the [[sun]], in perfect artistic symmetry, unlike any known other planet-moon system.  Moreover, unlike most planets in the [[solar system]], [[Earth]] has only one moon, which is designed in three remarkable ways: (1) it rotates and revolves such that only one side is ever visible to the Earth (a common characteristic seen in every single moon in the solar system<ref>https://science.nasa.gov/moon/tidal-locking/</ref>) (2) it is moving away at such a slow rate, it will not noticeably shrink in our sky for thousands of years, (3) its side that faces the Earth is smooth, while the side that remains hidden is jagged.  To those on [[Earth]], the Moon appears as an artistic disc that goes through phases of varying visibility from Earth.

'''''The [[Bible]] states that the Moon was created separately on Day Four along with the Sun and stars, while [[atheistic science]] has no theory for the Moon's origin that is supported by any real evidence'''''.

'''''The [[Bible]] states that the Moon was created separately on Day Four along with the Sun and stars, while [[science]] has no theory for the Moon's origin that is supported by any real evidence'''''.

==The Moon as God's creation==

==The Moon as God's creation==

===Rate of recession===

===Rate of recession===

The Moon currently recedes from the Earth at a rate of 1.5 inches (3.8&nbsp;cm) per year<ref>NASA [http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/ApolloLaser.html Measuring the Moon's Distance], ''LPI Bulletin'', No. 72, August 1994.</ref> and is believed by [[atheist]]ic scientists to be 4.6 billion years old,<ref>NASA, [http://history.nasa.gov/SP-350/ch-15-2.html Apollo Expeditions to the Moon], Chapter 15.2.</ref> but that is contradicted by an extrapolation backward in time using its observed rate of recession.

The Moon currently recedes from the Earth at a rate of 1.5 inches (3.8&nbsp;cm) per year<ref>NASA [http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/ApolloLaser.html Measuring the Moon's Distance], ''LPI Bulletin'', No. 72, August 1994.</ref> and is believed by [[atheist]]ic scientists to be 4.6 billion years old,<ref>NASA, [http://history.nasa.gov/SP-350/ch-15-2.html Apollo Expeditions to the Moon], Chapter 15.2.</ref>. Due to the pull of gravity slowing down the moon over time, an extrapolation backward in time would be very complicated using its observed rate of recession. Here is an attempt I found: <ref>https://www.desmos.com/calculator/oe8sunfxnm</ref>.

The Moon could never have been closer than about 11,000 miles, or it would have been broken up by tidal forces.<ref name="js">Sarfati, Jonathan (September 1998). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/764/ "The moon: the light that rules the night".] ''Creation Ex Nihilo'' (Brisbane, QL, Australia: Answers in Genesis), vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 36–9. Reprinted at Creation.com website.</ref> If the rate of recession stayed constant at 3.8&nbsp;cm per year, it would take 9.6 billion years for the lunar distance to migrate from 11,000 miles to the present distance of about 240,000 miles.  However, a further principle would be needed to show the rate of recession would have been constant over the hypothetical 9.6-billion-year period.

The Moon could never have been closer than about 11,000 miles, or it would have been broken up by tidal forces, supporting that it only formed one distinct mass outside of that region.<ref name="js">Sarfati, Jonathan (September 1998). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/764/ "The moon: the light that rules the night".] ''Creation Ex Nihilo'' (Brisbane, QL, Australia: Answers in Genesis), vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 36–9. Reprinted at Creation.com website.</ref> If the rate of recession stayed constant at 3.8&nbsp;cm per year, it would take 9.6 billion years for the lunar distance to migrate from 11,000 miles to the present distance of about 240,000 miles.  However, a further principle would be needed to show the rate of recession would have been constant over the hypothetical 9.6-billion-year period.

===Impact craters===

===Impact craters===