the distance from the Earth?
2006-12-20 01:57:38 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The average distance from the Earth to the Moon is 384,399 kilometres (238,854 mi), which is about 30 times the diameter of the Earth.
2006-12-20 02:03:17 · answer #1 · answered by bad_sector 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The average distance from the centre of Earth to the centre of Moon is 384,400 km (240,250 miles).
Earth's equatorial radius is 6378 km; Moon's radius is 1737.5 km.
Moon's orbit is elliptical so that once per orbit (i.e., once a month), there is a point where Moon is closest to Earth (perigee) and an opposite point where Moon is furthest (apogee).
The actual distances of perigee and apogee vary (because of gravitational influence of Sun and other planets).
In January 2007, apogee is on January 7 (404,992 km, centre to centre) and perigee is on the 19th (361,436 km).
If, on January 19th at 13h UT, you are on Earth directly under the Moon, your distance to the Moon's closest surface point will be 361,436 - 6378 - 1737.5 = 353,320.5 km (220,825 mi.).
2006-12-20 02:54:50 · answer #2 · answered by Raymond 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 240,000 miles, but it does vary a few percent as the Moon orbits Earth in a slightly elliptical orbit.
2006-12-20 02:13:46 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On average, the moon is 230,000 miles (380000 km) away from the earth.
2006-12-20 02:06:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋