An object information acquiring apparatus comprises a receiving unit including an acoustic wave detection elements； a setting unit configured to set to the object an area of interest for forming characteristics information on the object； a position control unit configured to move the receiving unit to predetermined reception positions； a recording unit storing information on the time taken for the acoustic waves generated from the area of interest to reach the acoustic wave detection elements and information on the predetermined reception positions after associating these two pieces of information； and an acquiring unit configured to acquire the characteristics information on the object using the electrical signals corresponding to the acoustic waves propagated from the area of interest and also using the information on the time.
