Why does that matter? Because without that precise alignment, we wouldn’t experience the breathtaking spectacle of a total solar eclipse—the stunning “ring of fire.” It’s a cosmic alignment that borders on poetry. Earth is also the only planet in the solar system with a single moon, a unique arrangement that made it possible for ancient civilizations to track time through lunar cycles. The Moon became our first calendar, measured in full moons, and a celestial clock guiding early humanity. 

But what fascinates me even more is the Moon’s origin. It isn’t just some random space rock captured by Earth’s gravity. It was born from Earth itself, formed when a Mars-sized body collided with the early Earth during the chaotic infancy of our solar system. That debris eventually coalesced into the Moon we now cherish. 

And of course, it was the first extraterrestrial rock where humans set foot. As Neil Armstrong so eloquently put it, it was “a small step for [a] human, a giant leap for humankind.” Luna was humanity’s first footprint in the cosmos, a milestone that still inspires scientists, dreamers, and poets alike. 

To this day, I love pulling out my telescope and gazing at the Moon’s craters —each one a silent story carved into stone, floating through our sky. Mysterious, beautiful, and ever-present, the Moon continues to enchant and inspire.