* Distance: Planets are incredibly far away. Even the closest planet to Earth, Venus, is still millions of miles away. The Moon, on the other hand, is only about 238,900 miles from Earth.
* Perspective: The Moon's orbit around Earth is relatively close. From the Moon's surface, the Earth would appear very large and dominate the view. Any planets would be much fainter and more difficult to see, especially with the naked eye.
* Focus: The Apollo 11 mission was primarily focused on landing on the Moon and conducting scientific experiments. The crew's attention was understandably on the immediate surroundings and their tasks.
However, astronauts have seen planets from space! Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have reported seeing Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and even Saturn. The vastness of space is truly mind-blowing!
