Astronomy

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The Sun and the Moon

The Sun: 

diameter = 1,392,000 km
mean distance from Earth = 149,600,000 km

S_{sun} = \frac{1392000}{149600000} = 0.00930

The Moon: 

diameter = appr. 3,474 km
mean distance from Earth = appr. 380,000 km

S_{moon} = \frac{3474}{380000} = 0.00914

The Sun has a diameter of approximately 400 times the Moon, and it is approximately 400 times further away, which should explain why they are exactly the same size when viewed from the Earth (as seen during solar eclipses). How's that for a spooky coincidence?

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