What is the average duration of the moon's orbit around the Earth?

Prepare for the NYSTCE 245 Arts and Science Test with interactive quizzes and comprehensive materials. Enhance your knowledge and understanding of core topics and ace your exam!

The average duration of the moon's orbit around the Earth is approximately 27.3 days. This period is known as a lunar month or sidereal month, which reflects the time it takes for the moon to complete one full orbit around the Earth relative to the stars.

This duration is significant in understanding the lunar phases, which cycle roughly every 29.5 days due to the Earth’s own movement around the sun. The choices regarding shorter durations, such as 15 days, 2 weeks, and the longer duration of 1 year, do not accurately reflect the moon's orbital cycle. The closest and relevant figure among the choices provided aligns best with 30 days, which is often employed for theoretical calculations regarding lunar cycles, even if it slightly oversimplifies the actual average orbital period.

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