For centuries, mankind has gazed up at the Moon in awe and wonder. It has been a source of both aspiration and inspiration to astronomers, poets, mathematicians and artists alike. But how much do we know about our closest neighbour? In this book, you'll discover the history of man's relationship with the Moon - the science, the myths, the facts and the fiction - and how it affects our everyday lives and the world around us.

One: Many Moons Ago. A Moon or a Planet? ; As Old As Time? ; Vital Statistics ; Good Neighbours? ; Keeping Your Feet on the Ground ; Gravity on the Moon ; Raven and How the Tides Began ; The Pull of the Tides ; So Near, Yet So Far ; Shining Light on the Subject ; 'The Harvest Moon' ; Exceptional Moons ; Massive Moons ; Eclipse Legends ; Moon Shadows ; Picture This ... ; Moon Markings ; Moon Among Many -- Two: Heavens Above. Gods and Goddesses ; Gender and Language ; Celestial Calendars ; Symbols and Signs ; Moon Signs -- Three: Mysterious Moon Myths. Man in the Moon ; The Moon Rabbit ; A Shady Character ... ; ... Or a Victim? ; The Fox and the Wolf -- Four: The Moon and our Bodies. Body of Influence ; Women and Fertility ; Sleep, Surgery and Seizures -- Five: The Moon and our Behaviour. A Crazy Phase ; Behaving Like Animals -- Six: Moon Imagination. From the Page ... ; More Moon Stories ; Fire! ; To the Stage ... ; To the Big Screen ; Moon Melodies ; Perfect Paintings ; Architecture -- Seven: One Giant Leap for Mankind. Rocket Revolution ; The Space Race ; Unmanned Spacecraft ; Getting Three ... ; Amazing Astronauts ; Missions Unaccomplished ; More Space Firsts ; Animals in Space ; The Biggest 'First' of All ; The Eagle Has Landed ; Walking on the Moon ; What Happened Next? ; More Moon Missions -- Eight: Back Down to Earth. Mapping the Moon Through History ; Lunar Images -- Nine: The Moon Today. Elderly Moon ; On the Move ; Who's Exploring Now? -- Ten: The Moon and the Future. Living on the Moon ... ; Reflections.