Lunar missions have helped scientists track the motion of the moon. What have they discovered about its motion?

The moon revolves around the Sun
The moon revolves around the Sun

The moon revolves around both the Earth and the Sun
The moon revolves around both the Earth and the Sun

The moon is never moving, only the Earth is
The moon is never moving, only the Earth is

The moon revolves around the Earth

1 answer

Lunar missions and various scientific observations have confirmed that the Moon primarily revolves around the Earth. However, it's important to note that the Moon also follows a path that is influenced by the gravitational pull of the Sun, meaning that it effectively revolves around both the Earth and the Sun in a complex manner.

Here's a summary of the statements:

  1. The moon revolves around the Sun - This is not accurate in isolation, as the Moon does not orbit the Sun independently; it is influenced by the Sun's gravity as it orbits the Earth.

  2. The moon revolves around both the Earth and the Sun - This is accurate. The Moon orbits the Earth, and as a result, it also moves in relation to the Sun, contributing to the Moon's overall path in space.

  3. The moon is never moving, only the Earth is - This statement is incorrect. The Moon is in constant motion, orbiting the Earth while the Earth itself orbits the Sun.

  4. The moon revolves around the Earth - This statement is accurate. The Moon's primary motion is its orbit around the Earth, which takes approximately 27.3 days to complete.

In conclusion, the most accurate understanding is that the Moon revolves primarily around the Earth, while also following a path influenced by the Sun's gravity.