Question on earth sciences/astronomy?

Question

During an eclipse(totality)when the moon is in front of the sun,what is the distance in miles inbetween the two i.e from the sun to the moon?is it several thousand miles?

Answer 1

'No, it's only 5 kilometres. Don't believe what NASA say that it is 93 million miles. They are trying to stop space tourism to the moon and sun. They have built a big Disneyland on the moon, and lots of pubs, but there's not much custom as they say there's no atmosphere...

Answer 2

The sun is approximately 93 million miles distant from earth and the Moon is approximately 250,000 miles away from Earth.

The Sun and Moon appear to be the same size in the sky (hence the total solar eclipses) because the Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun, while the Sun is 400 times further away than the Moon.

Answer 3

The Earth is, on average, 150 million km (93.75 million mi.) from the Sun (centre to centre).

However, in January we are at perihelion (closest point to the Sun on our elliptical orbit). In 2007, perihelion was on January 3, at 147 million km (91.88 million mi.). One perihelion per year.

The Moon is, on average, 384,400 km (240,250 mi.) from Earth (centre to centre). However, it too is on an elliptical orbit, with an apogee (point furthest from Earth) once a month. The furthest apogee in early 2007 was on April 3, at 406,329 km (253,955 mi.) centre to centre.

The radius of the Moon is 1737 km (1,086 mi.). The radius of the Sun is 696,265 km (435,166 mi.).

So, if a solar eclipse was to occur when the Earth is at perihelion and the Moon at apogee, then distance from the surface of the Sun (the part that gives off the light) and the surface of the Moon (the part that block the light) would be "as little as":
147,093,602 - 406,329 - 696,265 -1,086 = 145,989,922 km (approx. 91.24 million mi.). That's about the closest it can ever get... for now.

Because of the Sun's tidal effect on the Lunar orbit, sometimes the Moon's apogee could get a bit further out. If we did get a Solar eclipse just at the time of apogee, the Moon might be a few kilometres further (hundreds, at most).

Because of the Moon's tidal effect on Earth, the Moon is moving away from us (at the tremendous speed of 1.5 inches per year = almost 0.000000003 mph!). At this rate, in a million years, it will be further away by 24 miles!

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john r:
Mount Everest is over 8 km high and is located at 28 N latitude. The Moon's orbit is tilted 5 degrees from the ecliptic, itself tilted 23.5 degrees from the equator (23.5 + 5 is more than 28). Therefore, every once in a while, the Moon (at 5 km) would bump into Mount Everest and a few other mountains in the Himalayas. I doubt that Disney would not have thought of that. They usually check out the land before purchasing...

However, if they had placed the Moon so that it were a little over 8.8 km away (5.5 miles, surface to surface), then once a month, you could jump from mount Everest onto the Moon and save on rocket fuel.

Answer 4

It's about 147 million kilometres, off the top of my head. Slightly more than several thousand miles. Readjust your distance scales, or you'll struggle with astronomy!

Answer 5

No, its roundabout 93 million miles.

Or, the current Earth's orbital radius to the sun (about 93 million miles), minus the Moon's orbital radius to the Earth. (about 243,000 miles)

Answer 6

millions of miles

Answer 7

think of roughly it. anticipate a around orbit. how many levels are there in a circle? how many days does it take the Earth to end one circle (ie, orbit) around the solar? there is your answer.