Moon Distances from Earth - 2006

According to Nasa the average distance between the Earth and the Moon is approximately 384,400 kilometers (238,855 miles), however this varies by around 50,000 km each month owing to the Moon's eleptical orbit.

This variation in distance matters for a number of reasons. When the moon is closest (preigee) it will appear both bigger and brighter. When this coincides with a full moon it is known as a "supremoon" and can appear up to 17% bigger and 30% brighter. The proximity of the moon also affects the size of the tides, with the tidal range being greatest when the moon is closest.

Closest to Earth (Perigee)

Moon distance table - Closest approach (Perigee)
Date Time Distance (Km) Distance (miles)
1st Jan 2006 22:41 361,766 km 226,104 mi
30th Jan 2006 07:45 357,785 km 223,616 mi
27th Feb 2006 20:19 356,883 km 223,052 mi
28th Mar 2006 07:06 359,159 km 224,474 mi
25th Apr 2006 10:25 363,713 km 227,321 mi
22nd May 2006 15:17 368,577 km 230,361 mi
16th Jun 2006 17:06 368,886 km 230,554 mi
13th Jul 2006 17:40 364,268 km 227,668 mi
10th Aug 2006 18:33 359,738 km 224,836 mi
8th Sep 2006 03:10 357,173 km 223,233 mi
6th Oct 2006 14:19 357,415 km 223,384 mi
3rd Nov 2006 23:57 360,610 km 225,381 mi
2nd Dec 2006 00:14 365,947 km 228,717 mi
28th Dec 2006 02:22 370,360 km 231,475 mi

Furthest from Earth (Apogee)

Moon distance table - Furthest away (Apogee)
Date Time Distance (Km) Distance (miles)
17th Jan 2006 18:57 405,860 km 253,663 mi
14th Feb 2006 00:30 406,352 km 253,970 mi
13th Mar 2006 01:31 406,292 km 253,933 mi
9th Apr 2006 13:10 405,579 km 253,487 mi
7th May 2006 06:43 404,609 km 252,881 mi
4th Jun 2006 01:40 404,120 km 252,575 mi
1st Jul 2006 20:14 404,485 km 252,803 mi
29th Jul 2006 13:09 405,436 km 253,398 mi
26th Aug 2006 01:34 406,285 km 253,928 mi
22nd Sep 2006 05:37 406,497 km 254,061 mi
19th Oct 2006 09:47 406,053 km 253,783 mi
15th Nov 2006 23:26 405,160 km 253,225 mi
13th Dec 2006 18:57 404,378 km 252,736 mi