The average distance from the Earth to the Moon is about 384,400 kilometers (238,855 miles). This distance is measured from the center of the Earth to the center of the Moon and is roughly 30 times the diameter of the Earth

. However, the Moon's orbit around Earth is elliptical, so this distance varies over time:

• At its closest point (perigee), the Moon is about 356,500 kilometers (221,500 miles) away.
• At its farthest point (apogee), the Moon is about 405,500 kilometers (252,000 miles) away

Because of this elliptical orbit, the Moon can appear larger and brighter during perigee (sometimes called a "supermoon") and smaller during apogee ("micromoon")

. Additionally, the Moon is gradually moving away from Earth at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters per year

. In summary, while the average Earth-Moon distance is approximately 384,400 km, the actual distance fluctuates between about 356,500 km and 405,500 km due to the Moon's elliptical orbit.