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ELI5 Why are most Americans news outlets keep saying we are flying to the moon? When in all actuality we are flying around it? (lemmy.world)
submitted 6 months ago by to c/explainlikeimfive@lemmy.world
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[–] 41 points 6 months ago (4 children)

It's how language works.

We are flying to the moon, not to land on it, but to orbit it. That's still to the moon. We're not flying to the sun, or flying to mars. We're flying to the moon.

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  • [+] -11 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    5000 miles away from the moon isn't "to the moon" the same way as me living in Paris isn't living in Minnesota.

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  • [–] 13 points 6 months ago

    Do you understand how far orbits are in general? We have satellites in orbit around earth at varying distances based on what service those satellites provide. Some of those orbits are 22,000 mi above earth, which is a super popular orbit distance.

    I would still consider these things as part of earth because it's a physical feature of earth. Same with the moon. In astronomical terms, getting within several thousand miles of a thing, is entering the physical space of that thing.

    I'd compare it more to going to the 820 loop around Fort Worth. You're not in Fort Worth, but if you lived in New Mexico and we're going to a small town outside Fort Worth, you might still tell people that you're headed to Fort Worth.

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