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rk_9897 rk_9897
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11 years ago
Just like the question says. I can't seem to find an exact answer for it. Is it how the Apollo astronauts put mirrors on the moon and measure the distance using the speed of light?
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#1
11 years ago
That's the most accurate way to measure the distance, I believe.  Before that, it was done using trigonometry as far back as Ancient Greece, and their calculations were surprisingly accurate.
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#2
11 years ago
Correct.  Corner cube reflectors and laser pulses reflecting off of them.
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#3
11 years ago
Retroreflective mirrors were installed by Apollo missions (and by two Soviet landers).

Lasers are "fired" through Earth-based telescopes and the interval between the flash and "echo" is timed.
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#4
11 years ago
A very precise measurement of the time it takes a lazer beam to go from the earth's surface, reflect of the moon's surface and return to earth - a very exacting distance can be calculated with this data.
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#5
11 years ago
When the Apollo astronauts visited the Moon, they left behind some special mirrors that reflect light back towards the Earth. Scientists here on Earth can fire lasers at the Moon, and measure the time it takes to make the trip within the scale of picoseconds. Four of these lunar retro-reflectors are still functional.
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