2006-06-30 17:15:32 · 8 answers · asked by Kayv 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The distance to the sun can be computed by a variety of techniques. Trigonometry and parallax measurements were used by ancient greek and arab astronomers to come up with pretty good estimates for the distances to the sun, moon, and other planets.
The sun's diameter at its equator is about 865,000 miles, and the mean distance from the earth to the sun is about 93 million miles.
The moon's diameter at its equator is about 2,160 miles, and the mean distance from the earth to the moon is about 238,900 miles.
The ratio of the diameters is 865000 / 2160 or about 400. The ratio of distances is 93,000,000 / 238,900 or about 390. So the sun is about 400 times larger than the moon, but it's also about 400 times farther away - so the sun and moon appear about the same size in the sky.
The moon's orbit around the earth isn't a circle, and the lunar distance varies from about 220,000 miles to about 252,000 miles. When it is close to the earth, the moon appears slightly larger than the sun. When it is in the further part of it's orbit, the moon appears slightly smaller than the sun. If an eclipse occurs when the moon is furthest from earth, the moon's disk can't completely cover the sun. The result is an "annular" eclipse.
Incidentally, the moon gets slightly farther away from the earth every year. Eventually, in the distant future, it will be too far away to produce a total eclipse of the sun.
2006-06-30 19:48:50 · answer #1 · answered by mrharles 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We know the distance to both, and that the sun is about 400 times further away, yet they appear the same apparent size in the sky (roll on next solar eclipse) , so, the size difference is also around 400 times.
2006-06-30 17:27:14 · answer #2 · answered by Xraydelta1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun's diameter is 3736.4 times greater than the moons diameter. Where ever you got your data from is absolutely incorrect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It most certainly is not just 400 times. That
is totally absurd!!!!!
2006-06-30 18:04:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
moon's diameter is 2160 miles but suns diameter 864000
when you divide the suns diameter with 400 you wil get the suns diameter.
2006-06-30 21:39:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Using Kepler’s saw we know the distance ‘D, of sun and distance ‘M’ of the moon from earth.
The angular diameters of the sun and moon can be easily measured.
The angular diameter of moon is roughly 0.52 degree and its distance is 2, 40,000 miles from earth.
Therefore it diameter is equal to 2, 40,000 x 0.009 radian =2163 mile.
The angular diameter of sun is roughly 0.54 degree and its distance is 9.2838000 miles from earth.
Therefore it diameter is equal to 2, 40,000 x 0.0093167 radian =864949 mile.
The ratio of the sun’s diameter to that of moon’ diameter is 864949/2163 = 399.8.
2006-07-01 00:25:18 · answer #5 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WE CAN KNOW ABOUT IT WE CAN DETERMINE THE DIAMETER OF A PENCILE WITH A VERNIER CALIPPERS LIKE THAT THE DISTANS CAN BE CALCULATED BY A MEATHOD CALLED TRINGULAR MEATHOD BY THE DISTANCE THET CALCULATE THE DIAMETER FROM EARTH THEN THEY DO IN GRAPH AND ACCORDING TO TRINOMETRICAL FUNCTINS THEY CALCULATE THE DIAMETER
2006-06-30 20:26:53 · answer #6 · answered by padmachandudinesh 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To clarify Superstar, Trigonometry. There are mathmatical functions you can use to do those calculations with.
2006-06-30 17:20:10 · answer #7 · answered by John J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Science, lol :)
2006-06-30 17:19:08 · answer #8 · answered by __ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋