Is moon coming closer to the earth?

As the Earth and Moon near this blistering hot region, the drag caused by the Sun's extended atmosphere will cause the Moon's orbit to decay. The Moon will start moving ever closer to Earth until it reaches a point 20,000 kilometers above our planet, a point termed the Roche limit. read more

Therefore the gas drag is more effective at the farther part of the orbit and eventually, this will put the Moon into an orbit where the new Moon is lot closer to Earth than the full Moon. read more

The Moon will swing ever closer to Earth until it reaches a point 11,470 miles (18,470 kilometers) above our planet, a point termed the Roche limit. "Reaching the Roche limit means that the gravity holding it [the Moon] together is weaker than the tidal forces acting to pull it apart," Willson said. read more

Tags: earth and moon were closer, giant tidal waves, tidal forces, what would happen if All About Space is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. read more