The Moon is moving away from Earth at a rate of approximately 3.8 centimeters per year, according to CNBC Indonesia.
This gradual recession was confirmed through long-term scientific experiments, specifically the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment. During the Apollo missions in the 1960s, astronauts placed specialized reflectors on the lunar surface to allow scientists to measure precise distances to Earth by calculating the travel time of reflected laser beams.
As the Moon moves further away, its apparent size in the sky decreases, which will eventually make total solar eclipses impossible to witness from Earth, CNBC Indonesia reported, citing IFL Science.
“Seiring berjalannya waktu, jumlah dan frekuensi Gerhana Matahari Total akan terus berkurang. Sekitar 600 juta tahun lagi, Bumi akan melihat keindahan Gerhana Matahari Total untuk terakhir kalinya,” said NASA scientist Richard Vondrak in a 2017 statement.
Why total solar eclipses occur now
Current solar eclipses are possible because of a unique cosmic coincidence. The Sun’s diameter is roughly 400 times larger than the Moon’s, but the Sun is also about 400 times further from Earth than the Moon is.
This ratio allows the Moon and Sun to appear almost identical in size in the sky. However, the Moon’s appearance has changed significantly over time. Before occupying its current orbit, the Moon appeared three times larger in the Earth’s sky than it does today.
Did you know? The Moon’s orbit is an ellipse, not a perfect circle. This means the Moon has two positions, perigee when closest to Earth and apogee when reaching its furthest distance.
How lunar movement affects tides and climate
While the Moon's movement is a constant astronomical process, it does not directly influence daily human life.
Setiawan said that any impact from the Moon would be felt through other mechanisms, such as how lunar gravity affects ocean tides, which can influence coastal communities and fishing activities. He clarified that the change in the Moon’s distance does not directly affect climate systems, as those changes typically occur over annual to decadal scales.
Long-term climate changes are instead related to astronomical factors known as Milankovitch Cycles. These cycles include changes in Earth’s orbital shape, axial tilt, and precession or the shifting direction of Earth’s rotational axis, which alter the amount of solar radiation the planet receives over thousands or hundreds of thousands of years, Ketik reported.
“Perubahan orientasi Bumi ini menyebabkan perubahan radiasi Matahari yang diterima oleh Bumi sebagai sumber energi utama iklim Bumi sehingga perubahan ini mempengaruhi iklim Bumi dalam skala waktu ribuan hingga ratusan ribu tahun,” Setiawan told Ketik.
Comparison of lunar positions
| Lunar Position | Distance Relation to Earth | Primary Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Perigee | Closest point in orbit | Increased tidal influence |
| Apogee | Furthest point in orbit | Decreased tidal influence |
| Current Trend | Increasing by 3.8cm/year | Diminishing total solar eclipses |
Will the Moon moving away cause climate change?
Will the Moon moving away cause climate change?
No, the change in the Moon’s distance does not directly impact the Earth’s climate system. According to Sonni Setiawan of IPB University, climate changes in the long term are related to factors like Milankovitch Cycles, operating on timescales of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years.
When will total solar eclipses stop happening?
NASA scientist Richard Vondrak said that the number and frequency of total solar eclipses will continue to decrease over time. He estimated that in about 600 million years, Earth will see the beauty of a total solar eclipse for the very last time.
How do scientists know the Moon is moving away?
Scientists use the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment to measure the distance. By calculating the travel time of laser light reflected from reflectors placed on the Moon by Apollo astronauts, repeated measurements confirm the Moon continues to move away at a speed of about 3.8 centimeters per year, as reported by CNBC Indonesia.