2007-01-12 04:32:13 · 14 answers · asked by kevinhoegle 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why is this in the religion section?
2007-01-12 04:35:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
There are actually a LOT of ways.
First, we can calculate the distance to the sun by knowing the size of the earth's orbit. That's quite easy to calculate by using star positions throughout the year.
Second, we can calculate the distance if we know the mass of the earth.
Third, and more recently, we can bounce radar off the sun and see how long it takes to come back, which gives by far the most accurate distance. We can also bounce radar off of Venus and/or Mercury to get our distance to THEM, and use that as a check on our orbital calculations.
All of these different methods (and more) agree: we orbit the sun in a slightly elliptical orbit with a mean distance of 149,597,892 kilometers.
2007-01-12 12:39:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I used to know the answer to this and sadly I have forgotten. However, if memory serves correctly the relatvie distances between the sun, the earth and the moon had been worked out as far back as the 2000 BC. But it wasn't until teh theory of graivty was worked out that the exact distance was determined.
I could be wrong, but that's what my cloudy memory of freshman astronomy class is telling me.
2007-01-12 12:39:04 · answer #3 · answered by mullah robertson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why post this here, the ancients did some pretty decent measuring of both the Earth and cosmic distances, but really R&S, hardly.
2007-01-12 12:39:04 · answer #4 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Although it's true it's not always the same distance, it was determined (in ancient times) by the sun's shade.
:O I'm not sure about the method used in modern times....
2007-01-12 12:38:17 · answer #5 · answered by Smurfette 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sounds like a science question. but i think i know where your going with it. scientists make some sort of triangle and do some math and trust there answer. but if only one of these numbers is slightly off the whole is off by alot. to accurately measure you need a wider bace for the triangle. so dont belive them cus it doesnt matter anyway
2007-01-12 12:39:24 · answer #6 · answered by thespillgood 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It wasn't-the distance of the earth from the sun doesn't remain constant, as it surely would do if our planet was created by some divine power.
2007-01-12 12:35:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Gravitational pull
2007-01-12 12:35:27 · answer #8 · answered by Sean 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Euclidian mathematics and basic geometry
2007-01-12 12:36:16 · answer #9 · answered by bc_munkee 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The earth is flat,remember?
2007-01-12 12:35:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
My teacher told me it was with a very long tape measure. Although now that i am older, i think he may have been drunk when he told us that.
2007-01-12 12:37:36 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋