Why is the Moon Moving Further Away from Earth? Shocking Discovery!

For billions of years, the Moon has captivated humans with its presence in the sky, evoking awe and wonder. However, there are now theories suggesting that the Moon is gradually moving away from Earth, leading to fears of its eventual disappearance. This prospect is unsettling, as it would have profound implications for life on our planet. To understand the reasons behind the concern, let’s delve into the details.

The moon drifting away from the earth

According to a video shared by @TheSecretsoftheuniverse, the Moon is moving away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 centimeters per year. NASA’s Apollo mission discovered this back in 1969. But what is the real reason for the change?

According to reports, the drifting of the Moon is a result of tidal forces between the Moon and the Earth. The recession of the moon is believed to reduce the tides and also slow down the rotation of the Earth. NASA calls this theory tidal locking. This will lead to longer days on Earth in the future and may also lead to the disappearance of ocean tides. The change not only affects humanity, but also has a serious impact on the marine ecosystem.

The BBC reports that computer simulations have suggested that the Moon was once much closer to Earth. How close? Only 22,500 km away. Now it is 384,400 km away.

It is also suspected that there will come a time when the Moon will move away to such an extent that a solar eclipse will not be possible at all in the Sun-Earth-Moon system.

The formation of the moon

According to a NASA report, billions of years ago, Earth collided with an object called Theia, resulting in debris being thrown into Earth’s orbit and slowly converging to form the Moon. It is also believed that the Moon could have formed in a few hours from the ejection of material from the Earth. However, even scientists do not have a solid answer to explain how exactly the moon formed.