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Ocean tides ↗
Why there are two high tides a day.
Moon · Question
How far away is the Moon, really?
Every solar system diagram on this site has to compress either size or distance. The Earth-Moon system is small enough that we don't have to — this strip below is accurate for both at once. Scroll right.
Visual model
To scale, both size and distance.
Earth
Moon
Scroll for Moon →
Both circles and the gap between them use the same scale: 1 pixel ≈ 213 km. Scroll all the way right to reach the Moon.
Measurable fact
A surprising fact about that gap.
384,400 kmAverage Earth-Moon distance, center to center.
30.1 EarthsThat distance in Earth-diameters.
27%The Moon's diameter compared to Earth's — unusually large for a moon.
All 7 othersEvery other planet in the solar system could fit, side by side, in the gap between Earth and the Moon.
Misconception check
Quick check.
Quick check
Go deeper
Keep exploring.
Learn
Why solar system diagrams aren't to scale
Why the full solar system can't get this same treatment.
Moon
Moon phases
Back to the interactive Moon phase model.