<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (November 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (November 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> Lunar craters are impact craters on Earth's Moon . The Moon's surface has many craters, almost all of which were formed by impacts . </P> <P> The word crater was adopted by Galileo Galilei from the Greek word for vessel - (Κρατήρ a Greek vessel used to mix wine and water). Galileo built his first telescope in late 1609, and turned it to the Moon for the first time on November 30, 1609 . He discovered that, contrary to general opinion at that time, the Moon was not a perfect sphere, but had both mountains and cup - like depressions, the latter of which he gave the name craters . </P>

Where did the craters on the moon come from