How did the ancient Greek astronomer Aristarchus of Samos determine that the Moon's diameter was about 1/3 that of Earth?
A)by measuring the time it takes the Moon to cross the face of the Sun during a solar eclipse
B)by measuring the relative durations of lunar and solar eclipses
C)by measuring the time it takes the Moon to pass in front of a background star
D)by measuring the time it takes the Moon to move through Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Aristarchus of Samos determined the Moon's diameter was about 1/3 that of Earth by measuring the time it takes the Moon to move through Earth's shadow during a lunar eclipse. This method allowed him to estimate the relative sizes of the Earth and Moon based on the geometry of the Earth's shadow and the time the Moon took to pass through it.

How Did the Ancient Greek Astronomer Aristarchus of Samos Determine