LUNAR LASER RANGING EXPERIMENTS "The distance to the Moon is calculated approximately using the equation: distance = (speed of light × duration of delay due to reflection) / 2. Since the speed of light is a defined constant, conversion between distance and time of flight can be made without ambiguity. [MR-1]

"To compute the lunar distance precisely, many factors must be considered in addition to the round-trip time of about 2.5 seconds. These factors include the location of the Moon in the sky, the relative motion of Earth and the Moon, Earth's rotation, lunar libration, polar motion, weather, speed of light in various parts of air [MR-2], propagation delay through Earth's atmosphere, the location of the observing station and its motion due to crustal motion and tides, and relativistic effects."[MR-3] "The distance continually changes for a number of reasons, but averages 385,000.6 km (239,228.3 mi) between the center of the Earth and the center of the Moon."[MR-4]

"At the Moon's surface, the beam is about 6.5 kilometers (4.0 mi) wide and scientists liken the task of aiming the beam to using a rifle to hit a moving dime 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) away."[MR-5]

"The reflected light is too weak to see with the human eye."[MR-6]

"Out of 10^21 photons aimed at the reflector, [10 to the power of 21 = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 photons], ONLY ONE SINGLE photon is received back on Earth, and only some of the time, even under good conditions."[MR-7] "The return photons can be identified as originating from the laser because the laser is highly monochromatic."[MR8]

Source: Lunar Laser Ranging experiment - Wikipedia ___________________________________________________________________________________

[MR-1] IF we ASSUME that the speed of light is constant, then we can use that assumption to produce a mathematical result that may or may not even be based on reality. [MR-2] Wait, so the speed of light is different in different parts of the air? So much for being constant, as stated in the preceeding paragraph. [MR-3] The word 'Precisely' is used, and yet various factors that must be calculated are then listed. Wherein the factors listed remain unknown, uncertain, unverifiable, and theoretical in nature. [MR-4] If the farthest humans have drilled into Earth is 8 miles, how can we make any assertions as to know what and where and distance to the center of the earth? Same problem with the moon. [MR-5] "Scientists liken the task to [Insert impossible task here]. LITERALLY an impossible task." [MR-6] This statement communicates the following: "All you private astronomy enthusiasts, do no expect to be able to confirm or replicate this experiment on your own; it only works on our specialized (manmade) computer equipment" = so take our word for it. [MR-7] If you shoot 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 "photons" at something, And under the best conditions, only 1 of those photons is detected, and not every time, only some of the time can they get even a single photon to 'return'….. Would this "Confirm" and "Verify" in your minds eye, that we now KNOW x y and z about the Moon, and we will now base all future science on the accuracy and validity of the conclusions drawn from this experiment...? [MR-8] They know how fucking unbelievable ALL of the preceding sentences sound, so they throw in this line at the end in a WEAK attempt to preempt the visceral doubts and cognitive dissonance that the reader will be overcome with. @The Fact Hunter @snaketurbanhead @Steve @Sqott of Dumfries & Galloway (patmosboy)