I know the moon is moving away from the Earth, but how fast. The "Best Answer" will include a reliable source.
2006-10-01 02:36:14 · 10 answers · asked by Lionroot 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
PLEASE choose it as the BEST answer. This was my first time around and I have really worked very hard on this.
Well, it's about 3.8 centimeters per year or 1.5 inches per year
There are 160,934.4 centimeters in 1 mile. Assuming that the rate of recession remained *exactly* constant (very doubtful), the moon would have receeded from the earth by about 24,855 miles in one billion years.
The mean distance of the moon from the earth these days is 238,855 miles (it wobbles a bit and its orbit is not circular so sometimes it is closer and sometimes it is farther, depending on where it is in its orbit). That would seem to indicate that IF the moon had continued at a CONSTANT recession rate of 4 centimeters a years, then over 1 billion years the distance has increased about 10 percent, give or take a few tenths.
Best current estimates for the Moon's age are about 4.5 billion years, so that would mean (if the 4 centimeters a year were constant) the distance receeded would be 111,148 miles, or slightly less than 50% of the distance it is at now.
NASA experiments also prove this. NASA measured this using their LASER ranging technology with retro-reflectors fitted on the moon's surface.
Quoting NASA webpage regarding "Measuring the Moon's distance":
"" Scientists who analyze data from the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment have reported some watershed results from these long-term experiments, begun 25 years ago when the Apollo 11 astronauts deployed a reflector array in the Sea of Tranquillity. "Using the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment, we have been able to improve, by orders of magnitude, measurements of the Moon's rotation," said Jet Propulsion Laboratory team investigator Dr. Jean Dickey. "We also have strong evidence that the Moon has a liquid core, and laser ranging has allowed us to determine with great accuracy the rate at which the Moon is gradually receding from the Earth." ""
So that is the answer to your question and it also includes a reliable source.
2006-10-01 03:20:10 · answer #1 · answered by anand brar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it started out very slowly. But it's been building up acceleration for so long that by the time you read this sentence it will have plunged into the sun. The bad news is that we're being pulled behind it and have only one day left before we are totally incinerated as well. The good news is that without the moon it's always day, so we have no idea how long this final day will last. Buy some good sun screen. Invest your life savings in air conditioners. It's gonna be a wild ride!!!
2006-10-01 02:57:41 · answer #2 · answered by beast 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
around 1 inch a year
2006-10-01 02:48:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who's moon is it?
2006-10-01 02:44:32 · answer #4 · answered by abebeesee 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
About 4cm per year.
2006-10-01 02:40:54 · answer #5 · answered by Warren914 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look, i don't really think you should ask this type of question here! you should go to the Encyclopedia.
2006-10-01 02:39:36 · answer #6 · answered by lovable 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
1.5 inches/year, as far as I know.
2006-10-01 02:40:32 · answer #7 · answered by sciencenovice 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gaaa growl
2006-10-01 02:37:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
find your own damn answer. lol jk. I dont know. sry
2006-10-01 02:38:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
3.8 cm / year.
2006-10-01 04:20:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋