While the Moon may feel close in the night sky, a recent demonstration by Professor Anu Ojha helps us grasp the true scale of the distance separating our planet and its natural satellite. Through a clever use of an inflatable globe, string, and a scaled-down Moon ball, Ojha illustrated how much farther the Moon really is compared to familiar landmarks and everyday concepts like the International Space Station's orbit.
- Moon’s distance roughly equals 10 times Earth’s circumference
- Moon is about a quarter Earth’s diameter in size
- Distance to Moon is 1,000 times the orbit of the ISS
What happened
On April 6, 2026, the Orion spacecraft set a new human spaceflight milestone by carrying astronauts farther from Earth than ever before, passing around the Moon during the Artemis II mission. This achievement raised a natural question: how far is the Moon, actually? To answer this, Professor Anu Ojha conducted a live demonstration at The Royal Institution, using physical models to translate the abstract distance into a tangible experience.
Ojha used an inflatable globe to represent Earth and wrapped a string around it ten times to represent the Moon’s average orbital distance, since the Moon’s path around Earth is elliptical but roughly equal to ten Earth circumferences. At the end of the string, he attached a scaled-down Moon ball about a quarter the diameter of Earth, reminding viewers that while the Moon is large, the emptiness between is what’s truly vast.
Why it feels good
The demonstration provided a fresh perspective on the scale of space, making it easier for people—students and adults alike—to grasp the immense distances involved in lunar travel. By physically showing the length of the string as it stretched across a room and up a staircase, Ojha turned numbers into an immersive, mind-expanding experience that invites awe rather than confusion.
In addition, Ojha pointed out the massive difference between orbits we often hear about, such as the International Space Station’s 400 kilometers above Earth compared to the Moon being a thousand times farther. This tangible demonstration simplifies complex concepts and reminds us of the incredible challenges and accomplishments space exploration involves, offering a satisfying understanding of our place in the cosmos.
What to enjoy or watch next
For anyone fascinated by space, this kind of demonstration is a fantastic way to deepen your appreciation for astronomical distances without needing advanced math or technology. Educators and curious minds alike can try similar models at home or in classrooms to visualize other cosmic scales, such as distances to nearby planets to understand why exploring our solar system is such a formidable endeavor.
Additionally, following upcoming Artemis missions and other space exploration efforts can enrich this perspective. These missions will continue to expand human experience beyond low Earth orbit and bring new stories of space travel that highlight both the vastness of the universe and the creativity humans bring to exploring it.