@bwana: the moon will not go away. The tides are transfering kinetic energy from the earth’s rotation on its axis to the moon’s orbit. This lengthens the day very slightly each year, and increases the radius of the moon’s orbit. At some point stability will be reached, when the length of the day on earth is the same as the time it takes the moon to complete one orbit. At that point the moon will be permanently above one spot on the earth’s surface (like our geostationary communication satellites). There will be no tides at this point. Back in the ‘60s, a sci-fi author (I want to say Brian Aldiss, but I’m not certain of this) wrote a book in which plants took advantage of the lockstep between earth and moon and actually grew to connect the two bodies.
@Number Six: the sun will never go super nova, or even nova for that matter. It’s too small a star. What it will do, is continue to heat up a little for about the next four billion years (I think one or two billion years into this, the surface temperature of the earth will reach a point where water cannot exist as a liquid, ending all life—plan accordingly). Then, when its primary fuel supply is exhausted, it will start fusing helium, and its outer layers will swell into a red giant, expanding out to about the orbit of Mars. This will also obviously be bad for earth. Following that, it will shrink back to a much smaller starf, and with its crazy adolescence behind it settle into a long, long, stable adulthood as a white dwarf. But it lacks the mass to do the spectacular swelling and collapse that leads to a supernova. Probably good, because stars big enough to do the supernova thing also only exist a couple hundred million years. Not good for life.
Puddleglum, you’re right. The Long Afternoon of Earth (also titled Hothouse) is by Brian Aldiss. Very creative novel including a chapter explaining human intelligence that is guaranteed to outrage both evolutionists and creationists (a neat feat in itself). However, that’s only in the English version. The American version is shorter and left it out. Anyway, it’s an interesting read.
Ida No about 10 years ago
Moon is looking for a better place to raise the kids.
LobosSolos Premium Member about 10 years ago
Yes, yes it did used to be a little bit closer. It’s slowly but surely leaving us.
Kali39 about 10 years ago
Okay, how did Brewster move the moon? This one, we’ve GOT to hear…
Bilan about 10 years ago
Wait until you see Cliff’s moon.
puddleglum1066 about 10 years ago
@bwana: the moon will not go away. The tides are transfering kinetic energy from the earth’s rotation on its axis to the moon’s orbit. This lengthens the day very slightly each year, and increases the radius of the moon’s orbit. At some point stability will be reached, when the length of the day on earth is the same as the time it takes the moon to complete one orbit. At that point the moon will be permanently above one spot on the earth’s surface (like our geostationary communication satellites). There will be no tides at this point. Back in the ‘60s, a sci-fi author (I want to say Brian Aldiss, but I’m not certain of this) wrote a book in which plants took advantage of the lockstep between earth and moon and actually grew to connect the two bodies.
@Number Six: the sun will never go super nova, or even nova for that matter. It’s too small a star. What it will do, is continue to heat up a little for about the next four billion years (I think one or two billion years into this, the surface temperature of the earth will reach a point where water cannot exist as a liquid, ending all life—plan accordingly). Then, when its primary fuel supply is exhausted, it will start fusing helium, and its outer layers will swell into a red giant, expanding out to about the orbit of Mars. This will also obviously be bad for earth. Following that, it will shrink back to a much smaller starf, and with its crazy adolescence behind it settle into a long, long, stable adulthood as a white dwarf. But it lacks the mass to do the spectacular swelling and collapse that leads to a supernova. Probably good, because stars big enough to do the supernova thing also only exist a couple hundred million years. Not good for life.
GoodQuestion Premium Member about 10 years ago
Why yes, the moon has withdrawn since Kate Smith noted when the moon came over the mountain . . . . ☻
marykatie Premium Member about 10 years ago
Great info, puddleglum! Thanks!
westny77 about 10 years ago
The atmosphere is changing
ChessPirate about 10 years ago
Good eye, Don!
SunflowerGirl100 about 10 years ago
Puddleglum, you’re right. The Long Afternoon of Earth (also titled Hothouse) is by Brian Aldiss. Very creative novel including a chapter explaining human intelligence that is guaranteed to outrage both evolutionists and creationists (a neat feat in itself). However, that’s only in the English version. The American version is shorter and left it out. Anyway, it’s an interesting read.
Vet Premium Member about 10 years ago
Brewster….“Well one day I was backing up the ship when….”
Tue Elung-Jensen about 10 years ago
1990´s? Wouldn´t he be rather dead at that era then?
kaffekup about 10 years ago
But, Don, if they let you fly the Sirius, just make sure not to leave the turn signal on, ok?