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Distance from Earth to Moon: How far is the Moon from Earth?

The distance between the Earth and the Moon
The Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) aboard the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft captured this remarkable infrared portrait of Earth and its companion Moon on April 19, 2001. Taken from a distance of 3,563,735 kilometers (more than 2.2 million miles), the image offers a rare perspective on the Earth-Moon system, showcasing their true separation. The average distance between the Earth and the Moon, approximately 384,400 kilometers (238,855 miles), equates to about 30 Earth diameters-emphasizing just how vast this space truly is. In the image, the Earth's diameter of 12,750 kilometers (7,917 miles) is dwarfed by the immense gap to its satellite. The dark area on Earth represents the frigid south pole, with temperatures reaching minus 50°C (minus 58°F), while the bright spot above marks warm Australia. Captured using a 9.1 µm infrared filter, each pixel of the image corresponds to a region 900 by 900 kilometers (559 by 559 miles, about the size of Texas). Once Odyssey reaches Mars, the resolution of its imaging system was sharpened significantly, with each pixel covering only 100 by 100 meters-comparable to the size of a baseball field. This incredible photo not only highlights the vastness of space within our Earth-Moon neighborhood but also demonstrates the precision of instruments like THEMIS, which are used to map planetary surfaces in unprecedented detail.Credit: NASA/JPL/Arizona State University Image source: NASA (PIA Number: PIA00559)

The average distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384,400 km (238,855 miles). It’s a vast number that’s difficult to truly comprehend, leading many people to believe the Moon is much closer to Earth than it actually is. Astronomical distances are often hard to grasp. While planets and stars are massive, the spaces between them are far greater—beyond the reach of our imagination.

Video: Distance from Earth to Moon – How far away is the Moon?

In the video below, titled “How Far Away Is The Moon?”, Physicist Nick Lucid, also known as “The Science Asylum” talks about the distance between the Earth and the Moon, how the Earth-Moon distance is way bigger than most people think, and how our brains aren’t good at dealing with the big numbers.

How far is the Moon from Earth? You might feel like you’ve got a good grasp on how far away the Moon is, but you probably don’t. It looks a lot closer than it actually is. In fact, most things in outer space look closer than they actually are. You might even be overwhelmed by the true vastness and emptiness of space.

We evolved on Earth, and for thousands of years, we believed it to be the center of the Universe—or at least its most important and largest part. Our brains and minds are deeply adapted to life on this planet and to meet our basic survival needs.

So, we can deal with moderately sized objects that have moderate velocity, we can understand small numbers like 1, 2, and 50, and we can conceptualize small distances like two miles or the distance from our “cave” to the nearest river. But when the numbers and distances get bigger, like the distance between the Earth and the Moon, it becomes incredibly difficult to conceptualize. And the Moon is actually the nearest planetary body to us!

You might feel like you’ve got a good grasp on how far away the Moon is, but you probably don’t. It looks a lot closer than it actually is. In fact, most things in outer space look closer than they actually are. You might even be overwhelmed by the true vastness and emptiness of space.

Earth and Moon as seen by OSIRIS-REx. October 2, 2017.
How far is the Moon from Earth? This photo captures the vast distance between the Earth and the Moon, offering a true sense of their separation: Earth and Moon as seen by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. October 2, 2017. See how big the Earth-Moon distance actually is. The purpose of OSIRIS-REx spacecraft (the acronym for Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) is to study, map, and return samples for detailed analysis from asteroid 101955 Bennu, a carbon-rich hunk of rock that might contain organic materials or molecular precursors to life. It was launched on September 8, 2016, and the expected return date is September 24, 2023. If successful, OSIRIS-REx will be the first NASA spacecraft to return samples from an asteroid.
Do you remember the scene from the movie First Man? To demonstrate the distance between the Earth and the Moon, Deke Slayton (portrayed by Kyle Chandler in the film) needed an extra chalkboard.
Do you remember the scene from the movie First Man? To demonstrate the distance between the Earth and the Moon, Deke Slayton (portrayed by Kyle Chandler in the film) needed an extra chalkboard. That’s how far the Earth and the Moon are from each other – much farther than most people think.
Earth-Moon distance: All the planets of the Solar System could fit in the distance between the Earth and the Moon
Earth-Moon distance: All the planets of the Solar System could fit in the distance between the Earth and the Moon, which is around 384,400 km (238,855 miles). Image: The Science Asylum on Youtube
A Harvest Moon

Related: Moon Illusion: Why Does the Moon Look Larger When it’s Near the Horizon?

M. Özgür Nevres
Latest posts by M. Özgür Nevres (see all)
Özgür Nevres

By M. Özgür Nevres

I am a software developer and a science enthusiast. I was graduated from the Istanbul Technical University (ITU), Computer Engineering. In the past, I worked at the Istanbul Technical University Science Center as a science instructor. I write about the planet Earth and science on this website, ourplnt.com. I am also an animal lover! I take care of stray cats & dogs. This website's all income goes directly to our furry friends. Please consider supporting me on Patreon, so I can help more animals!

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