2007-02-24 06:04:51 · 5 answers · asked by sunflare63 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Don't know about it shrinking, but think about this: The moon is steadily moving away from the earth at about 2 inches per year. There are corner-cube reflectors on the moon left by astronauts that observatories fire lasers at to measure this distance. When the moon was first formed or captured it was only about 14000 miles away, now it is about 234000 miles away. By studying tidal rock formations geologists have discovered that at the time the moon was closest there were only about 16 hours in a day, and 3 tides per day. So don't worry about the moon shrinking, but wonder what will happen when it finally moves far enough away to break free from the earth's orbit and gravitational pull, and leaves us.
2007-02-24 07:21:26 · answer #1 · answered by Chris C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our atmosphere would change. Our oceans are dependent upon the gravitional pull from the moon. Our high and low tides could be drastically affected, causing atmospheric changes as well, since a good deal of our atmosphere is also a result of our oceans.
2007-02-24 14:14:55 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Cooper 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sure it would have an effect on tides, probably cause tsunamis!
2007-02-24 14:22:24 · answer #3 · answered by Yahoo! 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its gravity will be disturbed causing collapse of all planets depending on each others gravitational force.
2007-02-24 14:16:03 · answer #4 · answered by Manz 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
then we have no moon, lol...
2007-02-24 16:22:19 · answer #5 · answered by twix bar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋