[extropy-chat] Astronomical question

[Mike Lorrey]

--- Ian Goddard <iamgoddard at yahoo.com> wrote:

> --- Mike Lorrey <mlorrey at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > It is a well known phenomenon that the moon is
> > draining angular momentum from the earth, thus 
> > slowing earth's rotation and causing the moon to 
> > orbit at a greater distance from earth.
> > 
> > I just started wondering if anyone has figured out
> > how far away the moon has to get to escape earth 
> > orbit, how far into the future that will happen, 
> > and how much earth's day will be slowed by the time 
> > that happens.....
> 
> 
>  That process wont continue indefinitely. What's
> happening is that the earth/moon system is slowly
> "gravitating" toward synchronous rotation, or tidal
> lock. 

I understand this. My question is whether the moon will accomplish this
before becoming an independent body or not.

=====
Mike Lorrey
Vice-Chair, 2nd District, Libertarian Party of NH
"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
                                      -William Pitt (1759-1806) 
Blog: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Sadomikeyism

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