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lifeonmercury
- 137
- 26
Crash into the Sun, orbit the Sun, or fly off into space?
I hope not. The angular momentum of the Moon about it's axis will not change suddenly. It would take a very, very long time for a solid moon to tidally lock to the Sun. So the length of a day on the Moon would remain at about 29½ days as it is now.lifeonmercury said:Would the Moon then be tidally locked with the Sun?
Not really greater.Baluncore said:If instead, the Earth disappeared when there was a half moon, it would introduce a greater disturbance to the orbit of the Moon about the Sun.
If the Earth suddenly disappeared, the Moon's orbit would not be affected immediately. This is because the Moon's orbit is primarily determined by the gravity of the Earth, but it also takes into account the gravitational pull of other planets and objects in the solar system. However, over time, the Moon's orbit would become more unstable and could eventually lead to the Moon leaving the solar system.
The Moon's appearance would not change significantly if the Earth disappeared. The Moon's phases are caused by its position relative to the Earth and the Sun, so without the Earth, the Moon would still experience the same phases as it orbits the Sun. However, the Moon's brightness may change slightly due to the lack of reflected sunlight from the Earth.
If the Earth disappeared during a full moon, the tides would still occur, but they would be much weaker. This is because the tides are primarily caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon on the Earth's oceans. Without the Earth, the Moon's pull on the oceans would be much weaker, resulting in smaller tides.
If the Earth disappeared, the Moon's temperature would change significantly. The Earth's atmosphere helps to regulate the Moon's temperature by trapping heat and reflecting sunlight. Without the Earth, the Moon's surface would experience extreme temperature fluctuations, with very cold nights and very hot days.
It is highly unlikely that life on the Moon, as we know it, could survive if the Earth disappeared. The Moon does not have an atmosphere, water, or a stable temperature, all of which are essential for life to exist. Additionally, without the Earth's gravitational pull, the Moon's environment would become even more inhospitable for life.