Science Fact Finder | Space - How Far Is The Moon From The Earth?

How far is the moon from the Earth?

Since the moon's orbit is elliptical (oval-shaped), its distance varies from about 221,463 miles (356,334 kilometers) at perigee (closest approach to Earth) to 251,968 miles (405,503 kilometers) at apogee (farthest point). The average distance from the moon to the Earth is 238,857 miles (384,392 kilometers).

Sources: McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology 7th ed., vol. 5, p. 470; The Universal Almanac 1992, p. 16.

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