# Moon's orbit around Earth is much more eccentric than Earth's orbit around the sun, leading to the Moon sometimes appearing larger than the Sun

Michael Stillwell

Yesterday 5:35 PM  -  

Google Reader

  -  Public

On the apparent sizes of the Moon and Sun. The Moon's orbit around Earth is much more eccentric than Earth's orbit around the sun, leading to the Moon sometimes appearing larger than the Sun, and sometimes smaller.

Spooky sun sizes »

A reader writes: The Oatmeal recommends sites get more traffic and Facebook likes by writing an epic love story involving cage-fighting nuns and tanks, or if that is not possible, explaining why the sun and the moon appear to be the same size in the sky. Both of these seem right up your alley, but frankly I for some reason find the second one more interesting. Why ARE the sun and moon the same size? Is it just a bizarre coincidence, or is there s...

▾

Add a comment...