Question
As we watch the Moon move across the sky, how much is it moving, versus the Earth’s own movement?
Answer
When you watch the Moon move from east to west, it travels its own diameter in about 3 minutes. The speed at which we see it move is mostly due to the Earth’s movement, not the Moon’s. The Earth’s movement accounts for 95 percent of the shifting position of the Moon. The other 5 percent is actually the Moon itself moving.
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