The moon has orbited around the sun with the Earth for over 4.5 billion years.
Experts believe that a Mars-sized object collided with the Earth, causing debris to scatter into space and eventually coming together to form what we now recognise as the moon.
Humans are so accustomed to the moon’s presence that it’s difficult for us to imagine what life on Earth would be like if it suddenly disappeared.
However, is it even possible for the moon to drift away or vanish? And if it did, what would happen?
According to Space, Noah Petro, project scientist for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (Nasa) Artemis 3 moon mission, said that very few astronomical events could cause the moon to disappear.
“I think the only plausible astronomical event that could untether the moon would be a large impact to the moon that breaks it up. … Similar to the large impact that is thought to have led to the formation of the moon, a large enough object could, in theory, break the moon apart,” Petro said.
However, he added, that the likelihood of such an event happening is very low, as most large objects in the solar system have been absorbed by the sun and planets.
The only other possibility, according to Petro, would be a rogue planet entering the solar system from interstellar space, but the chances of it colliding with the moon are minimal.
What would happen to Earth?
If the moon disappeared, a lot of events that humans are accustomed to would change significantly.
According to a Space report, the effect on ocean tides, coastal ecosystems, and marine life would be catastrophic.
Additionally, tidal erosion at coastal margins would greatly diminish.
This would have a huge impact on the dispersal of heat and energy around the planet, changing temperature and climate into a place humans would hardly recognise.
Furthermore, without the moon to stabilise it, Earth’s axis wobble could become extreme and erratic, leading to unpredictable seasons and drastic changes in Earth’s habitability.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
