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Bounty Ended with PM 2Ring's answer chosen by Cornelis
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Notice added Authoritative reference needed by Cornelis
Bounty Started worth 100 reputation by Cornelis
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Cornelis
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Why is there a 38.46 km Earth-Moon distance difference between Ephemeris types "Observer table" and "Vector table" on Horizons Web Application?

Observer Table
The image above is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with the Ephemeris type: Observer Table.
It shows the distance (delta) from the geocentric observer location to target Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404460 km.

Vector Table
This image is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with Ephemeris type: Vector Table.
It shows the distance (RG) from the geocentric coordinate center to the Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404421.64 km.

Is there a credible explanation for the 38.46 km difference beween the "Observer Table" and "Vector Table" type ?

Here are the Earth-Moon distance differences between Observer table and Vector table on 31 successive days at the same daytime from April 15 to May 15, 1970 in km:
38.6 35.3 30.7 24.9 18.2 10.8 2.9 -5.0 -12.8 -19.9 -26.2 -31.2 -34.8 -36.6 -36.6 -34.7 -30.9 -25.5 -18.8 -11.0 -2.7 5.7 13.8 21.3 27.7 32.9 36.7 38.9 39.6 38.8 36.4

Why is there a 38.4 km Earth-Moon distance difference between Ephemeris types "Observer table" and "Vector table" on Horizons Web Application?

Observer Table
The image above is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with the Ephemeris type: Observer Table.
It shows the distance (delta) from the geocentric observer location to target Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404460 km.

Vector Table
This image is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with Ephemeris type: Vector Table.
It shows the distance (RG) from the geocentric coordinate center to the Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404421.6 km.

Is there a credible explanation for the 38.4 km difference beween the "Observer Table" and "Vector Table" type ?

Why is there a 38.6 km Earth-Moon distance difference between Ephemeris types "Observer table" and "Vector table" on Horizons Web Application?

Observer Table
The image above is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with the Ephemeris type: Observer Table.
It shows the distance (delta) from the geocentric observer location to target Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404460 km.

Vector Table
This image is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with Ephemeris type: Vector Table.
It shows the distance (RG) from the geocentric coordinate center to the Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404421.4 km.

Is there a credible explanation for the 38.6 km difference beween the "Observer Table" and "Vector Table" type ?

Here are the Earth-Moon distance differences between Observer table and Vector table on 31 successive days at the same daytime from April 15 to May 15, 1970 in km:
38.6 35.3 30.7 24.9 18.2 10.8 2.9 -5.0 -12.8 -19.9 -26.2 -31.2 -34.8 -36.6 -36.6 -34.7 -30.9 -25.5 -18.8 -11.0 -2.7 5.7 13.8 21.3 27.7 32.9 36.7 38.9 39.6 38.8 36.4

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Cornelis
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Why is there a 38.4 km Earth-Moon distance difference between Ephemeris types Observer table"Observer table" and Vector table"Vector table" on Horizons Web Application?

Observer Table
The image above is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with the Ephemeris type: Observer Table Observer Table.
It shows the distance (delta) from the geocentric observer location to target Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404460 km.

Vector Table
This image is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with Ephemeris type: Vector Table.
It shows the distance (RG) from the geocentric coordinate center to the Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404421.6 km.

Is there a credible explanation for the 38.4 km difference beween the "Observer Table" and "Vector Table" type ?

Why is there a 38.4 km Earth-Moon distance difference between Ephemeris types Observer table and Vector table on Horizons Web Application?

Observer Table
The image above is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with the Ephemeris type: Observer Table.
It shows the distance (delta) from the geocentric observer location to target Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 being 404460 km.

Vector Table
This image is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with Ephemeris type: Vector Table.
It shows the distance (RG) from the geocentric coordinate center to the Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 being 404421.6 km.

Is there a credible explanation for the 38.4 km difference beween the "Observer Table" and "Vector Table" type ?

Why is there a 38.4 km Earth-Moon distance difference between Ephemeris types "Observer table" and "Vector table" on Horizons Web Application?

Observer Table
The image above is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with the Ephemeris type: Observer Table.
It shows the distance (delta) from the geocentric observer location to target Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404460 km.

Vector Table
This image is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with Ephemeris type: Vector Table.
It shows the distance (RG) from the geocentric coordinate center to the Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 min., being 404421.6 km.

Is there a credible explanation for the 38.4 km difference beween the "Observer Table" and "Vector Table" type ?

Source Link
Cornelis
  • 7.5k
  • 2
  • 27
  • 77

Why is there a 38.4 km Earth-Moon distance difference between Ephemeris types Observer table and Vector table on Horizons Web Application?

Observer Table
The image above is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with the Ephemeris type: Observer Table.
It shows the distance (delta) from the geocentric observer location to target Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 being 404460 km.

Vector Table
This image is a screenshot from Horizons Web Application with Ephemeris type: Vector Table.
It shows the distance (RG) from the geocentric coordinate center to the Moon on April 15, 1970 at 00:34 being 404421.6 km.

Is there a credible explanation for the 38.4 km difference beween the "Observer Table" and "Vector Table" type ?