The moon is currently in a distancing phase, but it goes in and out. Sky & Telescope magazine says that in the year 2257, the perigee of the moon will be 356,371 km, much CLOSER than the moon is this year in its perigee (356,964 km on May 6, 2012).
If some TV documentary is to be believed, the moon was once about 1/3 the distance away, causing mountain-high tides that swept across entire continents, dissolving out the salt from the land into the ocean.
OK, I can buy that. What I don’t buy is the idea that some random Mars-sized body hit the earth to create the moon. Without an explanation of the origin and fate of that body, it just sounds like crazy Velikovsky again. (He’s the guy who tried to misuse several sciences to try to prove that Old Testament miracles were literally true.)
runar about 12 years ago
At one time the moon was closer. Every year, its distance increases another 3.78cm.
mesachie about 12 years ago
Yeah, but did it make the roasts fly off the table tops? ;-)
Zaristerex about 12 years ago
The moon is currently in a distancing phase, but it goes in and out. Sky & Telescope magazine says that in the year 2257, the perigee of the moon will be 356,371 km, much CLOSER than the moon is this year in its perigee (356,964 km on May 6, 2012).
runar about 12 years ago
Besides – if the roast got lifted into the air, wouldn’t that make it farther away from the dog?
pschearer Premium Member about 12 years ago
If some TV documentary is to be believed, the moon was once about 1/3 the distance away, causing mountain-high tides that swept across entire continents, dissolving out the salt from the land into the ocean.
OK, I can buy that. What I don’t buy is the idea that some random Mars-sized body hit the earth to create the moon. Without an explanation of the origin and fate of that body, it just sounds like crazy Velikovsky again. (He’s the guy who tried to misuse several sciences to try to prove that Old Testament miracles were literally true.)