The
geology of the Moon (sometimes called
selenology, although the latter term can refer more generally to "lunar science") is quite different from that of
Earth. The
Moon lacks a significant
atmosphere, which eliminates
erosion due to
weather; it does not have any form of
plate tectonics, it has a lower
gravity, and because of its small size, it cooled more rapidly. The complex
geomorphology of the lunar surface has been formed by a combination of processes, especially
impact cratering and
volcanism. The Moon is a differentiated body, with a
crust,
mantle, and
core.