Surely, the Moon is one of the most loved space objects out there. During history, many have attributed it to the mystery, magic, and hidden powers. In reality, its importance for the creation of the life on Earth and how it marks the rhythm and even the stability of the planet are some of the amazing scientifically-accepted powers of the Moon.
Its size is exact and it is at just enough distance to be a good partner of the Earth. Beyond myths, it is a satellite that exerts an extraordinary influence on our planet. Let’s see why.
Tides
It directs the tides on Earth with its gravity force. As the laws of physics explain, the closer two objects are, the greater the force with which they attract each other, and that is what happens between our planet and its satellite.
The Moon draws the oceans towards it and makes the Earth bulge slightly.
But the tides we have are because the Moon is where it is. If it were closer, the force would be greater, thus, the low tides would be lower, the high tides would make the coastal cities disappear.
Origin of life on Earth
Almost 5,000 million years ago, a planet the size of Mars collided with the young Earth, and the shock sent a huge amount of liquid rock around. That shock created the Moon and changed the basic chemistry of our planet.
But another 700 million years passed after that impact, during which, the Earth cooled, a rocky surface formed, water vapor condensed in the oceans, and the Moon pushed those oceans.
It was precisely this reflux of primitive tides that gave rise to life on Earth.
The lifecycle
Our ancestors worshiped the Moon. In fact, many cultures created famous legends and mythical creatures around it, such as the werewolf.
Some believe that the full moon upsets us and even that, on the nights with full Moon, there are more crimes. However, this is something that science has not been able to verify.
What is certain is that many animals become more active, sound, and fertile when the full moon shines. A striking case is that of tropical corals that synchronize their reproductive cycle with full-moon nights.
Every 29 days, when the full moon shines, the corals generate a new bone layer on the previous one and this growth is dictated by the monthly orbit of the Moon.
Rhythm and stability
The moon rotates every 29 days, the same time it takes to orbit the Earth and that is why it always shows us the same face.
The Earth, on the other hand, does it every 24 hours, but there was a time when the Earth was spinning so fast that one day it lasted 5 hours. The Moon, however, acted as a break, according to experts.
Since its formation, for billions of years. the gravitational force of the Moon slowed the rotation of the Earth. And so, the same rhythm of the planet has been marked by its satellite.
If the Earth has slowed down, as a result, the Moon has accelerated, so it is moving away, according to astronomers, at 3.78 cm per year. Since the collision that led to the formation of the Moon, the Earth’s axis has been tilted, rotating at a constant angle of 23 degrees, allowing variations of sunlight and seasons, climate stability, and therefore the cycle of the life.
This stability depends on the speed of rotation of the planet, as can be seen by turning a basketball over a finger, as the faster it rotates, the more stable it stays on its axis.
Therefore, the Moon is a fundamental element to maintain life on Earth.
