Orbit of the Moon orbit of the Moon is distinctly elliptical, with an average eccentricity of 0.0549. The non-circular form of the lunar orbit causes variations in the Moon's angular speed and apparent size as it moves towards and away from an observer on Earth. The mean angular movement relative to an imaginary observer at the Earth-Moon barycentre is ° per day to the east (Julian day 2000). The Moon's elongation is its angular distance east of the Sun at any time. At new moon, it is zero and the Moon is said to be in conjunction. At full moon, the elongation is 180°
Splitting of the moon describes an actual event at the time of the Prophet, but it clearly refers to the end of the world. Some Muslim scholars argue that an astronomical event must have happened at that time, which made it appear as if the moon had been split in two, because the phenomenon was seen at least in India as well. One such possible lunar event could be a large asteroid hitting the moon, and the plume and debris from the strike blocking enough lunar view to make it appear as if the Moon had split in two. A second possibility could be