Is the moon crashing?
Well not today or tomorrow but is it true that the moon is on a declining orbit and thus eventually crash in a few million years? And if so: How was this calculated/ measured?
Well not today or tomorrow but is it true that the moon is on a declining orbit and thus eventually crash in a few million years? And if so: How was this calculated/ measured?
aerogirl
I agree with Lee, the moon is actually getting further away from us...about one inch every year. I believe it was calculated by astronomers who noticed the distance between the moon and the Earth increasing, perhaps with the use of parallax. Because the moon has so much momentum going, it's just enough to thrust it a little bit further out of our orbit. Since it's only moving away by one inch a year, it will obviously take a very long time before it finally falls away!
Lee
Actually, I believe the moon is slowly slipping away.
This is calculated with the light reflector placed on the moon. They simply count the time it takes for light to go and come in time and count the appropriate distance by time. According to websites, it is moving away at 4cm annually.
Anonymous
The moon is moving awawy, at about the same speed the Pacific tectonic plate is moving away :D
Anonymous
The Moon is moving away, not towards. And possibly, but not for a long time.
Anonymous
the moon receeds a few centimeters a year, So, the answer is NO.