<P> When viewed from the north celestial pole (i.e., from the approximate direction of the star Polaris) the Moon orbits Earth anticlockwise and Earth orbits the Sun anticlockwise, and the Moon and Earth rotate on their own axes anticlockwise . </P> <P> The right - hand rule can be used to indicate the direction of the angular velocity . If the thumb of the right hand points to the north celestial pole, its fingers curl in the direction that the Moon orbits Earth, Earth orbits the Sun, and the Moon and Earth rotate on their own axes . </P> <P> In representations of the Solar System, it is common to draw the trajectory of Earth from the point of view of the Sun, and the trajectory of the Moon from the point of view of Earth . This could give the impression that the Moon orbits Earth in such a way that sometimes it goes backwards when viewed from the Sun's perspective . Because the orbital velocity of the Moon around Earth (1 km / s) is small compared to the orbital velocity of Earth about the Sun (30 km / s), this never happens . There are no rearward loops in the Moon's solar orbit . </P> <P> Considering the Earth--Moon system as a binary planet, its centre of gravity is within Earth, about 4,624 km (2,873 mi) or 72.6% of the Earth's radius from the centre of the Earth . This centre of gravity remains on the line between the centres of the Earth and Moon as the Earth completes its diurnal rotation . The path of the Earth--Moon system in its solar orbit is defined as the movement of this mutual centre of gravity around the sun . Consequently, Earth's centre veers inside and outside the solar orbital path during each synodic month as the Moon moves in its orbit around the common centre of gravity . </P>

How many times does the moon go around the earth