The Moon lies 238,855 miles from Earth – more than 30 Earths!
Historically, distance measurements to the Moon were measured through coordinated observations during lunar eclipses or other events that all observers could view simultaneously. Nowadays, accurate mechanical clocks and digital cameras allow millimeter-precision measurements.
Engineers need a lot of fuel to reach the Moon. Once in orbit, more energy must be burned to slow down for landing and use parachute deployment to stop.
How far is the Moon from Earth?
The average distance between Earth and the Moon is 384,400 kilometers (238,855 miles), which varies over time due to its elliptical orbit. When close to us – at perigee – the Moon appears bigger and brighter than usual, often creating entire moon phenomena known as supermoons. Furthermore, its proximity with us also affects tide levels, with larger ones appearing when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align perfectly in one position.
The Moon lies approximately 150 million kilometers (93 million miles) from the Sun. Like Earth, both bodies orbit elliptically around each other, with the Sun being at its closest when we are at perihelion and its furthest away when at aphelion.
Astronomers measure lunar distance by watching for instances when the Moon partially obscures a background star or illuminates from another source passing behind it – this method, called occultation, is the oldest and most reliable means of ascertaining how far away from Earth the Moon lies. Furthermore, measurements take only several hours!
Although it might appear far away, the Moon can be reached more quickly by foot than we think due to our living in space stations orbiting above it. So, if you traveled to the Moon by air or spacecraft, it would likely take more than 238,855 miles to arrive! Plus, getting to your launch site would require additional time! To help visualize the distance between Earth and the Moon, imagine that a basketball represents Earth while tennis balls represent its moon counterpart. Put the basketball on the floor, use a measuring tape, and find 23 feet 9 inches (9.3 meters). That distance approximates how far away the Moon is from Earth.
How do we measure the distance between the Earth and the Moon?
Scientists can be challenged in pinpointing the exact distance between Earth and the Moon due to their elliptical orbital pattern, which brings them closer at certain times of the year. They have various techniques available for measuring this gap – one such approach is radar ranging, which involves pointing an antenna toward the Moon and measuring how long it takes for signals sent there to return home to Earth again.
Parallax is another method for measuring distance between Earth and the Moon, using objects’ appearance differently when seen from different positions on Earth as its base point. By comparing two images of the Moon taken at other times, astronomers can calculate differences in apparent size; more enormous such differences indicate greater separation.
Laser ranging accurately measures the distance between Earth and the Moon, using a spacecraft equipped with mirrors or reflective surfaces to direct laser light pulses towards and back from the Moon. Although accurate, this technique requires a reasonably large spacecraft and being visible during lunar events, making using it challenging.
There are various methods of estimating the distance between the Earth and the Moon, including using the geometry of the solar system and measuring angular velocity with gyros. But none are as precise as radar ranging.
Astronomers in the past measured the distance between the Earth and the Moon by carefully observing lunar eclipses. This event occurs when Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, blocking out some or all of its light. One early account was written by Aristarchus of Samos around 310 B.C.; Aristarchus used simple geometry to calculate that the Moon lies approximately 60 Earth radii away.
Today, we measure the distance between Earth and the Moon with radar technology or by using satellites to direct satellites towards reflectors left by Apollo astronauts on the Moon or by using lasers on Earth or space to time reflections from Apollo missions left on the lunar surface by lasers or timed reflectors left behind by Apollo astronauts. Crewed Apollo missions took an average of 78 hours to enter lunar orbit; traveling directly to its surface takes two days, 21 hours, and 8 minutes.
How long does it take to travel to the Moon?
As the Moon’s orbit is not circular, its distance varies. At perigee (its closest point), approximately 226,300 miles (363,300 kilometers) separate us and her farthest point, or apogee (405,500 kilometers). On average, spacecraft take three days to reach the Moon from Earth.
Speed also plays an integral part in how long it takes a spacecraft to reach the Moon, with Apollo 11’s 1969 mission taking only four days, six hours, and 45 minutes for crew members to arrive on the lunar surface.
Spacecraft traveling at high speeds must face immense resistance in their attempts to reach the Moon, including frictional resistance created by laws of gravity that will slow their progress. Getting it sooner becomes increasingly unlikely if such resistance stands in their path.
Although Earth is relatively large compared to our Moon, its gravitational pull on Earth is still strong enough for high and low ocean tides to occur. Furthermore, sunlight reflected off allows some parts of Earth to see more illumination than others.
How can we know how far away the Moon is from Earth? Scientists use telescopes to measure distances between Earth and the Moon using satellite measurements; using this data, they are then able to calculate its orbit around us all and create models of its surface for more in-depth studies into how its formation occurred.
To gain a clear picture of how far away the Moon is from Earth, consider it in terms of scale. Imagine standing at the center of a soccer field and gazing across to an adjacent corner with an enormous beach ball measuring one meter (3′), representing the Sun. A tennis ball would mean the Moon, each distance between Earth and the Moon being similar in magnitude.
What is the Moon’s distance from Earth?
The Moon’s distance from Earth varies with where it lies in its orbit, from just under 225,000 miles at perigee to an astounding 252,088 mile-plus distance at its farthest apogee point – its average distance being 238,855 miles, which equals approximately 30 Earths.
Distance between these points equates to the time required for light to travel from the Moon to Earth; due to light’s constant speed of travel, this takes 1.28 seconds! So when you look at the Moon now, you see it just like it appeared 1.28 seconds earlier!
Astronomers use radar or laser beams to measure the distance between the Earth and the Moon. This method is much quicker than sending a spaceship there, although it still takes several days to reach the orbit of the Moon. On Apollo missions, astronauts could enter lunar orbit in just over three days, but took even longer before landing on its surface.
Scientists also utilize the Moon for studying our solar system and its interactions with each planet, giving them insight into its history and future development.
The Moon is the fifth largest satellite in our solar system and our only natural satellite. At only about one-quarter the diameter of Earth, its influence still makes itself felt, from tides caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon on oceans to solar eclipses affecting the Sun’s positions; its shape, gravity, and other properties even help form stars within our galaxy! It’s a genuinely fantastic object!
