What would happen to the Earth if the moon was stolen by aliens?

Answer 1

For one, our moon is massive, it would take one very impressive alien ship to be able to steal it. For two, the gravitational attraction between the Earth and the moon is huge, another amazing reason why aliens would have to be very technologically advanced to steal it. And thirdly the effect of removing our moon would probably be catastrophic. It controls the tides, marks our day, affects the seasons. The likelihood would be that we would die, in fact.

Answer 2

Earth/Moon is a two-body system that has a particular angular momentum keeping it in orbit at a particular average distance from the Sun.

The loss of the Moon would reduce the mass and hence the angular momentum of the Earth system, which would therefore move inwards until a new equilibrium was reached closer to the Sun. The Earth would receive more energy and the average temperature would rise. Then you would see what global warming was!

The moon also has the major effect on the tides, though the Sun also has an effect, so in the absence of the moon tides would be less but wouldn't disappear completely. Being closer to the Sun, the Sun's influence on the tides would increase but not enough to compensate for the loss of the Moon.

The Earth would be closer to Venus, so the effect of Venus on tides would also be greater, but again not enough to compensate for the Moon.

The size of the Moon compared with the area of the sphere of space whose radius is 240,000 miles is negligible so the protective effect of the moon against bolides is also negligible, so it is irrelevant to the question.

If you're wondering what a bolide is, it is the space-faring stage before a body becomes a meteor (shooting star) or lands as a meteorite.

Contrary to one wag, the moon has nothing to do with the libration of the poles so the seasons would still be present, they would just be warmer than they are now.

Answer 3

The Moon helps stabilize the tilt of the Earth's rotation, it prevents the Earth from wobbling between climatic extremes. Without the Moon, seasonal shifts would likely outpace even the most adaptable forms of life.

A Moon-less Earth with the same mass, rotation rate, and orbit as today would have the direction of its spin axis vary chaotically between 0 and 90 degrees on time scales as short as 10 million years. At high obliquity, temperatures over mid-to-high latitude continents would reach near boiling 80 to 100 Celsius around the summer solstice under a 1-bar nitrogen- dominated atmosphere. Such temperatures would be damaging to all forms of water-dependent life on Earth today.

Answer 4

The orbit of the earth around the solar might replace somewhat. Now, you need to evaluate the circulation of earth and moon by using the decreased mass middle of the two around the solar. do away with the moon to an infinite distance and the orbit will replace. the comparable component happens whilst a comet hits the earth, then the airplane of orbit differences.

Answer 5

We would die!.End of story!.
The moon believe it or not helps the planet more than just moving the tides!.The human body is made up of mostly water-it affects us too.If the moon was a bit further out or a bit closer to us,life would not be as we know it+i know this to be true!.

Answer 6

Tides would be severely reduced, and the Earth's orbit around the Sun could be destabilized, which would almost certainly be A Bad Thing.

Answer 7

George Bush would blame the north koreans and bomb the f*ck out of them

the UN would condemn the action
and the french farmers would blockade the ferry terminal


Stop watching Big Brother, it is rotting your brain

Answer 8

Intergalactic war with Lorne Green, Patrick ? and James T Kirk
in command.

Answer 9

the same as what they said in big brother so watch that instead of coming on here and asking someone Else's question have the intelligence to think up your own

Answer 10

And just been asked on Big Brother!

Could mean end of the world!!