Lead
Before the 50s of the 20th century, mankind knew very little about the moon, just a round of bright satellites, but since the first human landing on the moon, our understanding has continued to deepen, until later scientists obtained an amazing data through laser experiments: "The moon is moving away from the earth at a rate of 3.8 centimeters per year."
This data means that the moon has not been steadily orbiting the earth all the time, but gradually left the earth in the process of going away.
But is the speed at which the moon is moving away from it really as fixed as it is now, and if not, what factors will affect it?
Why is the Moon getting farther and farther away from Earth?
The answer to this question began many years ago, so how did this process come about?
Body:
1. First landing.
The earliest study of the distance to the moon began with the three astronauts "Armstrong", "Aldrin" and "Collins" on the American "Apollo 11" spacecraft.
On the afternoon of July 20, 1969, the American "Apollo 11" astronauts "Armstrong" and "Aldrin" landed on the moon to carry out space missions.
This event was the first time that mankind landed on the moon since its birth, and it expanded mankind's understanding of space and provided a place for mankind's further exploration of the universe.
In the Apollo 11 space mission, in addition to the meaningful activities of the first human landing on the moon, there is also a relatively secret secret, on the "Apollo 11", a diameter of 5.5 mm, 2 mm, cylindrical solar parabolic escape rod, this escape rod is equipped with a laser of convergence beam, used to emit a laser to the earth, through the laser receiving station on the earth to receive the laser signal emitted back by this laser, calculate the distance between the moon and the earth.
This is also the first time in human history that the distance to the moon has been calculated by laser.
2. The Moon is farther away than the Moon.
Between 1970 and 1976, the United States and France jointly invested more than $10 million in studying the distance between the Moon and the Earth.
The technology they use is to calculate the distance using a laser, which has the advantage of being unaffected by the atmosphere and can directly measure the distance between the Moon and the Earth with a very high degree of accuracy.
In 1970, the United States launched an artificial satellite, Poska, to carry laser experiment equipment to monitor changes in the distance between the Moon and the Earth, and this artificial satellite from 1970 to 1974 continuously monitored and recorded changes in the distance between the Moon and the Earth, providing very important data.
Through the analysis of the data obtained, it was finally concluded that every year, the Moon moves 3.8 centimeters away from the Earth.
This data also surprised people, what is going on with the moon, which looks relatively small, leaving the earth at such a large speed?
Why does the Moon leave the Earth.
3. Rock formations from 2.5 billion years ago.
The Moon is 3.8 centimeters away from the Earth every year, but this speed is not necessarily constant, and may also be affected by some external factors, such as the speed at which the Moon is far away.
In 2003, in Australia, a place known as the "natural space laboratory", Karijini Kalagini National Park, attracted many scientists.
This area is a potential uranium belt and a rich area of rock formations, where researchers have found a 2.5-billion-year-old rock formation, which has been analyzed and most likely comes from the stones between the Earth and the Moon, which served as a chain between the Moon and the Earth throughout the Moon's dissipation, and it witnessed the Moon's escape from the Earth, 2.5 billion years of history.
2.5 billion years ago, the Moon was about 382 million meters away from the Earth, and the Moon was moving away from the Earth at a rate of 2.24 centimeters per year, but today the Moon is moving away from the Earth at a rate of 3.8 centimeters per year.
The researchers analyzed the rock formations and came up with shocking results.
2.5 billion years ago, the distance between the Earth and the Moon was about 60,000 kilometers, and this value also corresponds to the value of the Moon's distance from the Earth: the Moon is moving away from the Earth at a rate of 2.24 centimeters per year.
When Apollo 11 landed on the moon in 1969, they installed a laser reflector on the surface of the moon to receive the laser light emitted from the Earth, and then the laser light was reflected back to the Earth on the surface of the moon, so that the distance between the Moon and the Earth could be directly calculated.
Since 1970, scientists have been using laser methods to monitor and calculate changes in distance between the Moon and the Earth.
Fourth, the reason why the moon is far away.
The reason why the Moon is moving farther and farther away from the Earth is because the speed of the Earth's rotation slows down, and the slowdown in the Earth's rotation means that the Earth slows down, and after the Earth starts to slow down, the distance between the Moon and the Earth starts to increase.
The earth began to decelerate 2.4 billion years ago, after analysis, the distance between the moon and the earth 2.4 billion years ago was 45,000 kilometers, and the time of the earth's rotation was 18 hours, while today, the time of the earth's rotation is 24 hours, and the increase in the time of rotation means that the earth begins to slow down, and the slowdown of the earth will have an impact on the distance of the moon, and the distance will become farther, 2.5 billion years ago the moon was 382 million meters away from the earth, 2.4 billion years ago the distance was 45,000 kilometers, and today it is 380,000 kilometers.
The slowdown of the Earth and the action of the tides are all reasons that affect the Moon's distance from the Earth.
In addition, there is another more critical and important reason, that is, the collision between the earth and the asteroid.
After the "Apollo 11" moon landing, the laser reflector on the moon can only be used for about 20 years at most, but the moon is far away from the earth, and it is difficult for the laser to accurately irradiate the laser reflector, so scientists have come up with a good way, that is, to use radio ranging methods to calculate the distance between the moon and the earth using radio waves.
epilogue
After the "Apollo 11" landed on the moon in 1969, the laser reflector installed on the surface of the moon can be said to be a key stroke in the further exploration of space by mankind.
The ancient rock formations discovered by humans on Earth can not only reveal the history of the Moon, but also help us understand the origin of the Moon and help us understand the evolution of the Earth-Moon system.
Over time, the Moon's 3.8 centimeters per year away from the Earth may also change, and changes in the Moon will also have an impact on the Earth's rotation speed, and the interaction between the Moon and the Earth may produce more complex orbital changes.
Through the ancient rock formations found on the earth, we can also understand what the natural environment and climate on the earth were like at that time, which is a deeper interaction between the moon and the earth.
The effect of tidal action between the Moon and the Earth on the Earth's rotation speed may change over time, which will have an impact on the Earth's climate and the evolution of the Earth itself.
Understanding the process of the Moon's distance from the Earth can not only help us understand the evolution of the Earth-Moon system, but also provide valuable references and enlightenment for future space exploration and interstellar travel.