The Moon Is Slowly Drifting Away from Earth Every Year
Due to tidal friction in Earth's oceans, the Moon drifts roughly 3.8 centimeters farther away from us every single year.
🪐 Micro-Discovery
NASA Science
On average, how many centimeters does the Moon drift away from Earth each year?
Earth's spinning tidal bulges pull slightly ahead of the Moon, transferring angular momentum and nudging it into a higher orbit.
🪐 Space
Micro-Discovery
Why / How?
Scientific Mechanism
The Moon's gravity pulls on Earth's oceans, creating tidal bulges. Because Earth rotates faster than the Moon orbits, these bulges sit slightly ahead of the Moon and gravitationally tug it forward, transferring rotational energy into a wider lunar orbit.
Why It Matters
Earth's spinning tidal bulges pull slightly ahead of the Moon, transferring angular momentum and nudging it into a higher orbit.
