How Many Times Does the Moon Circle the Earth in a 24-Hour Period?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 10, 2023

The moon cannot circle the Earth in a 24-hour period. It takes approximately 27 days for the moon to orbit the Earth. In a one-year period, the moon circles the Earth 13 times.

The moon also rotates on its axis, and because of the force of gravity between the Earth and the moon, the moon completes only one rotation during the time that it completes its Earth orbit. The gravity-controlled slow rotation holds the moon in the same position in relation to the Earth showing the Earth the same side throughout the orbit. The other side, never seen from Earth, is the dark side of the moon.