Discussions tagged “Moon”

The average distance from the Moon to the Sun is approximately 150 million kilometers, but this distance varies significantly throughout the year. The Moon orbits the Earth, and the Earth orbits the Sun, so the Moon's distance from the Sun changes as the Earth moves along its elliptical path. This variation is due to the Earth's orbital eccentricity, which means the Earth is slightly closer to the Sun at perihelion (around 147 million km) and further at aphelion (around 152 million km). This variation in distance affects the apparent size of the Sun as seen from the Earth, which is why we experience solar eclipses. How does this distance compare to the distance between the Moon and the Earth? Has anyone ever calculated the precise moments when the Moon is at its farthest and closest to the Sun during a year?