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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Is the barycenter of the Earth Moon system shifting as the Moons orbit increases
« on: 18/09/2018 21:55:44 »
With the Moon increasing its orbit by what to me is a startling rapid rate of 38 mm a year will the barycenter of the Earth moon system move? If it does and seeing that it is already 4671km from the Earths centre then in a relatively short time could it leave the earths surface?
My thinking here is if that was to happen the Earth would become a binary planet with the Moon. So 9 planets become 7 (no Pluto and Neptune is not a planet as it also has not cleared its orbit) then back to 8 when the Moon becomes a planet. The new planetary definition is a mess.
My thinking here is if that was to happen the Earth would become a binary planet with the Moon. So 9 planets become 7 (no Pluto and Neptune is not a planet as it also has not cleared its orbit) then back to 8 when the Moon becomes a planet. The new planetary definition is a mess.