For most of human history, the moon has been more than a distant object in our night sky. It has served as a clock, a guide, a deity and a scientific focus. Now, as NASA's Artemis II mission returns astronauts to the lunar system for the first time in over 50 years, humanity's relationship with our celestial neighbor may never be the same.

In her book "Our Moon: How Earth's Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are" (Penguin Random House, 2025), science writer Rebecca Boyle traces that deep relationship, showing how the moon has shaped not just Earth itself but also the way we understand our place in the universe. The book journeys through history with a lunar lens, with Boyle weaving science with civilization and culture.