
TL;DR
This paper demonstrates how high school students can accurately measure the Earth-Moon distance using radio communication delays, revealing lunar orbital eccentricity through accessible software tools.
Contribution
It introduces a simple, educational method for measuring lunar distance and orbital eccentricity using open-source software and radio echo timing.
Findings
Distance measured with three-digit accuracy
Detection of lunar orbital eccentricity
Educational approach for precise astronomical measurements
Abstract
We report on a determination of the Earth-Moon distance performed by students of an Italian high school, based on measurements of the time delay of the "echo" in the radio communications between Nasa mission control in Houston and the Apollo astronauts on the lunar surface. By using an open-source audio-editing software, the distance can be determined with three digits accuracy, allowing to detect the effect due to the eccentricity of the orbit of the Moon.
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