<P> The usual English proper name for Earth 's natural satellite is `` the Moon '' , which in nonscientific texts is usually not capitalized . The noun moon is derived from Old English mōna , which ( like all Germanic language cognates ) stems from Proto - Germanic * mēnô , which comes from Proto - Indo - European * mḗh1n̥s `` moon '' , `` month '' , which comes from the Proto - Indo - European root * meh1 - `` to measure '' , the month being the ancient unit of time measured by the Moon . Occasionally , the name `` Luna '' is used . In literature , especially science fiction , `` Luna '' is used to distinguish it from other moons , while in poetry , the name has been used to denote personification of our moon . </P>
<P> The usual English proper name for Earth 's natural satellite is `` the Moon '' , which in nonscientific texts is usually not capitalized . The noun moon is derived from Old English mōna , which ( like all Germanic language cognates ) stems from Proto - Germanic * mēnô , which comes from Proto - Indo - European * mḗh1n̥s `` moon '' , `` month '' , which comes from the Proto - Indo - European root * meh1 - `` to measure '' , the month being the ancient unit of time measured by the Moon . Occasionally , the name `` Luna '' is used . In literature , especially science fiction , `` Luna '' is used to distinguish it from other moons , while in poetry , the name has been used to denote personification of our moon . </P>
what is the name for earth 's moon
what is the name for earth 's moon
the Moon
the Moon