We've all seen the Moon in the night sky, hanging around like Earth's friendly neighbour. It may look like it's not too far away, but the Moon and the Earth are separated by an average distance of 384,400 km. But did you know how the distance between the Earth and the Moon in orbit is measured? To measure the distance between the Earth and the Moon, scientists fire laser beams from our planet to the natural satellite, which reflects off mirrors left on the Moon's surface by Apollo astronauts. By measuring the time it takes for the beam to return, scientists calculate the distance accurately. This method, known as known as lunar laser ranging, helps us understand the Moon's orbit and Earth's gravitational pull.
