As Earth's solitary natural satellite, the moon has shielded our planet from asteroid impacts since its formation.

Consequently, both the front and back surfaces of the moon are adorned with numerous craters.

The moon continues to wield its gravitational force, influencing earthly phenomena such as the ebb and flow of tides, and serving as a guiding force for nocturnal creatures.

From a numerical standpoint, the moon, boasting a radius of 1,737 kilometers, is approximately one-third the size of Earth, ranking as the fifth-largest satellite in our solar system. Unlike the satellites of Jupiter or Saturn, however, the moon lacks a dense atmosphere or even an ocean.

This desolate celestial body is inhospitable to life. Previously labeled as the "lunar sea," the apparent plains on the moon result from extensive meteorite bombardment. Consequently, the vacuum environment of the moon preserves features such as craters and human footprints for extended periods.

As the nearest celestial body, extensively explored by ground missions and numerous probes, the moon is undeniably the most familiar extraterrestrial entity to humanity. Yet, for astronauts who have touched down on its surface, gazing skyward to see Earth hanging high in the lunar "sky" can evoke an eerie sensation.

The disquiet stems from the unique phenomenon of the moon being tidally locked to Earth, akin to how we only witness one side of the moon from Earth. Astronauts stationed on the moon consistently see Earth fixed in the same position, nullifying the Earthly concept of rising in the east and setting in the west. Unlike the breathtaking images of Earth from the moon, revealing a vivid, agate-like sphere suspended against the dark backdrop of space, the astronauts' fixed viewpoint may evoke a sense of confinement and the relative insignificance of humanity.

With the Earth's volume dwarfing that of the moon by 49 times, the lunar landscape, when observed from the moon's surface, becomes more imposing than beautiful. This feeling intensifies for astronauts clad in spacesuits weighing hundreds of kilograms, unable to communicate directly and reliant on radio signals. In this scenario, the moon transforms into a desolate expanse, a solitary realm devoid of companionship.

Unlike common phobias, megalophobia is rarely triggered in everyday life. However, venturing beyond Earth's confines and into space can induce a unique form of megalophobia. From the vantage point of a space station, Earth may present a vision of serene oceans, but the moon offers a contrasting experience—an overwhelming sense of inferiority and condescension.