What if Earth had no moon?

Answer 1

Ok, this is kind of a long answer, but bear with me. First off, the night would be no darker than it currently is during a new moon. Remember, the moon is only up at night half of the time.

However, the consequences of Earth having no moon would be much more severe. Life as we know it would probably die out.

Our moon is actually fairly large compared to our planet...this is what causes the strong tides people experience living on the ocean. This tidal force also causes a much more subtle effect known as "precession".

Earth's seasons are entirely determined by it's "axial tilt", the amount that our axis of rotation is tipped to the axis of our orbit (it has absolutely nothing to do with Earth being closer or further form the Sun). During summer in the northern hemisphere, that hemisphere is tipped towards the Sun, while the southern hemisphere is tipped away from the Sun...that's why it's winter there.

Now, throughout its history, Earth has had a relatively steady 23.5 degree tilt, meaning that the seasons have always been roughly the same intensity. As mentioned, the moon's tidal forces causes precession, meaning the rotation axis carves out a wobble 23.5 degrees in radius every 26,000 years. It's kind of like a top spinning...not only does it spin quickly, but as it also slowly wobbles from the Earth gravity. The direction of the rotation axis changes, but the magnitude of the angle doesn't change.

So, the moon has a steadying effect on our axial tilt...so what? Well, without it, our axial tilt could vary a lot, being caused by changing tidal forces from Jupiter and the Sun. There's good evidence to show that this is exactly what happened to Mars...it has no large moons, just a couple tiny captured asteroids which exert very little tidal force. As a result, it seems that Mars has varied anywhere from 0 degrees axial tilt (no seasons) up to a 60 degree axial tilt (crazy intense seasons) caused by the tidal forces of the Sun and Jupiter.

With an axial tilt of 60 degrees, that means all locations northward of 30 degrees get 24 hours of sunshine in summer, and absolutely no sunshine in winter. With such strong seasons, it's likely the oceans would evaporate off...this seems to be the case on Mars, where there is mounting evidence that there was once a large northern ocean that mysteriously disappeared.

So, Short Answer: The seasons will become incredibly intense, the oceans would evaporate off, and without liquid water, all life would die.

Answer 2

1) Earth's oceans would have tides even if we did not have a moon. The Sun is large enough that its gravity would create tides. Oddly enough, the moon tides and sun tides are of almost equal size. The Sun's gravity is more powerful than the Moon's gravity. But the Sun is much farther so it balances out. When the Moon and Sun are on the same side of Earth, the tides are much stronger.

2) Most of the time, the Moon lights the night sky. Without this light, it is doubtful that any of the nocturnal species would be nocturnal. It is certain that the moonlight affected the course of evolution on Earth.

Answer 3

the universal way in which the placement of the Moon relative to the Earth impacts the Earth is via the tides. The Moon's gravitational pull is solid adequate to entice the water contained in the sea's rather in route of it, making the oceans rather more advantageous (intense tide) on one area of the planet than the different. any incorrect way in which the Moon's position can impression the Earth is via Eclipses. at the same time as the Moon, solar, and Earth are aligned completely, the shadow of Earth ought to forestall mild from attaining the Moon, or vice versa (keep in mind that the Moon "shines" because image voltaic is contemplated off its floor). at the same time as the Moon is placed completely between the solar and the Earth, we get a image voltaic Eclipse. at the same time as the Earth is between the solar and the Moon, we get a Lunar Eclipse.

Answer 4

Umm, nights would almost always be indescribably dark. Tides would no longer effect earth. Umm, climate would probably be a little screwed up, because alot of currents in the ocean are influenced by tides. There are so many variables I couldn't think to name them all. I'm sure continental tidal forces wouldn't exist either, so probably lowered volcano activity as well.

Answer 5

Please see the movies-'The Core'.
The Earth magnetic fields would be different without our moon.
Think again: Tidal waves and magnetic field shielding are now
good for humans' existing. Without a moon, things are changing rapidly towards destruction.
The Russian scientists had had a science fantasy, the Russian lands will be warmer if there is no moon.So they shoot at the moon with nuclear missiles. But this was not a mature fantasy.
I did not see the movies:'The Core' yet. You can use your imagination now.

Answer 6

If the earth had no moon then there would be no tidal effects, and therefore there would be no high or low tide. Also at night it would be very dark.

Answer 7

The nights would not be darker! They'd be the same as the moonless nights now.

The intricately moon-linked axial precession would get screwed up though, we really can't live without a moon.

Answer 8

If Earth had no moon then it would be very dark at night all the time. After the sun goes down it would be pitch black. It would be the same if there was no sun. It would be just dark.

Answer 9

We might not exist and the octopus would probably be the smartest creature on Earth.

It's said Earth was covered in water, but when the mo9on came, it controlled the water and diminished it, making more land for humans to live on. Without the Moon, Earth might be covered in water and octopus and squids might rule Earth since they are pretty smart for aquatic creatures.

Answer 10

it will be dark because the moon reflects the light to the earth causing moon light.