When there is a lunar or a solar eclipse what is the distance inbetween the two?(i.e in miles)from the moon to the sun or vice versa?
2007-02-02 11:42:28 · 10 answers · asked by ASHERS 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
92,956,000 +/- 239,000 miles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_unit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_distance_%28astronomy%29
2007-02-02 13:42:18 · answer #1 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The distance from the earth to sun is 94 million miles. the distance from the earth to the moon is about 250,000. During a solar eclipse the moon is between the earth and the sun and blocks out the sun. During a lunar eclipse the earth is between the sun and the moon and the moon is blocked out. So during a lunar eclipse the moon would be approximately 500,000 mile, plus the diameter of the earth, further from the sun that during a solar eclipse. Rough figures just to give u an estimate.
2007-02-02 11:56:18 · answer #2 · answered by RUDOLPH M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About 93 million miles or 1AU(Astronomical Unit). The moon's orbit varies, it swings in (closest) and out (furthest). When the moon is at its furthest point, for an observer on earth it exactly matches the sun's apparent size in the sky and you get a total eclipse. At its closest point to earth the moon's apparent size is slightly smaller than that of the sun, and the sun appears as a bright ring (annular eclipse) and can only be viewed safely with filters.
A lunar eclipse is when the moon passes through the earth's shadow and is turned a deep red as some of the sun's light is bent round the earth by the atmosphere and only light at the red end of the spectrum illuminates the moon. The moons distance varies between 250,000 and 250,000 miles from earth.
2007-02-02 12:13:30 · answer #3 · answered by colin.christie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Sun is 93 million miles from Earth; the moon is 250 thousand miles from earth - so in a solar eclipse (when the moon is between the Earth and the Sun) the distance between them is approx. 92 and 3/4 million miles; in a lunar eclipse (when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon) the distance is approx. 93 and 1/4 million miles.
2007-02-02 11:58:18 · answer #4 · answered by twentieth_century_refugee 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Moon is approximately 240,000 miles from the Earth so during a lunar eclipse the Moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun so it is 1AU + 240000 away from the Sun and during a solar eclipse the Moon is on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, so the Moon is 1AU - 240000 .
1AU = 93,000,000
2007-02-02 11:54:09 · answer #5 · answered by rscanner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The moon is always 249,000 miles from the earth and the sun is always 93 million miles from the earth. They appear about the same size because their sizes are about the same angular relation to their respective distances. The sun is about 93 million miles from the earth-moon system.
2007-02-02 11:57:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
solar eclipse 92,000,000 miles approx, lunar eclipse 250,000 miles approx
2007-02-02 12:13:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Approx 93 million 750 thousand miles...........depending on moons orbit and earths orbit.
2007-02-02 11:52:00 · answer #8 · answered by bremner8 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
www.space.com
This site is good for getting links for stuff
2007-02-02 11:55:43 · answer #9 · answered by Glenn M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask the bbc they know everything go to bbc.co.uk/theskyatnight
2007-02-02 11:47:23 · answer #10 · answered by PInky without perky!! 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋