A study report states that the Moon is moving away from the Earth by about 3.8 centimeters per year, which will have a very real effect on the length of the day on our planet and according to the study report, after that the day will be 25 hours instead of 24 hours. This research has suggested that our natural satellite i.e. the Moon is slowly moving away from the Earth. This research is based on careful scientific observation and analysis.
The day on Earth used to be 18 hours earlier
A team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison focused on the rock from a 90 million year old structure to find out what difference the Moon’s gradual separation from the Earth would make. The study states that the Moon is moving away from the Earth by about 3.8 centimeters per year, ultimately, this will result in the day on Earth being 25 hours, not 24, in 200 million years. This study also shows that 1.4 billion years ago, a day on Earth was a little more than 18 hours long.
What did the geologists say
The main reason for this phenomenon is the gravitational forces between the Earth and the Moon. Stephen Meyers, a professor of geology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said, “As the Moon moves away from us, the Earth becomes like a spinning skater that slows down as it spreads its arms.” He said, “We want to study billions of years old rocks in a way that is similar to the study of modern geologic processes.”
Moon and Earth relationship
The Moon moving away from Earth is not a new discovery; it has been known for decades. However, the University of Wisconsin-Madison study delves deeper into the historical and geological context of this phenomenon. By examining ancient geological structures and sediment layers, researchers have traced the history of the Earth-Moon system over billions of years. Their findings suggest that the Moon’s current retreat rate is relatively stable, but has fluctuated over geological timescales due to a variety of factors, including Earth’s rotation speed and continental drift.
