Changes

The '''Moon''' orbits the [[Earth]]. Unlike most planets, Earth has only one moon and it has several striking characteristics:   

The '''Moon''' is Earth's satellite and orbits it<ref>It is more correct to say that the Earth and the Moon orbit each other around a gravitational midpoint called the ''barycenter.'' This point is, however, actually inside the Earth, about 3/4 from its center. It is not the Earth, but the barycenter of the Earth/Moon system, that orbits the Sun in a near-perfect ellipse. Relative to this ellipse, Earth is 3,000 miles closer to the Sun at full moon and 3,000 miles further from the Sun at new moon.</ref> at an average distance of about 238,000 miles (380,000 km.)

 

Unlike most planets, Earth has only one moon and it has several striking characteristics:   

1.  Throughout man's existence, the Moon has had the same size as the [[Sun]] when viewed from Earth.  This creates a beautiful symmetry and permits phenomenal eclipses to occur.  The odds of that symmetry occurring by chance are very small.  That symmetry will not last forever, as the sun is continually shrinking.

1.  Throughout man's existence, the Moon has had the same size as the [[Sun]] when viewed from Earth.  This creates a beautiful symmetry and permits phenomenal eclipses to occur.  The odds of that symmetry occurring by chance are very small.  That symmetry will not last forever, as the sun is continually shrinking.