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silentreverie
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If the orbit of the moon was 2x farther than it is now, how would that affect the length of day and of the month?
The average length of a lunar day on the Moon is 29.5 Earth days. This is because the Moon's rotation period is the same as its orbital period, meaning the same side of the Moon always faces Earth.
The Moon's orbit around Earth has a direct impact on the length of a month. The lunar cycle, which is the time it takes for the Moon to complete one full orbit around Earth, is about 29.5 days. This is why most months have either 30 or 31 days, as they are based on the lunar cycle.
The Moon's orbit is actually slightly elliptical, meaning it is not a perfect circle. This is why the Moon appears to be closer or farther away from Earth at different times during its orbit.
Yes, the Moon's orbit is constantly changing in both speed and direction. This is due to the gravitational pull of other celestial bodies, such as the Sun and Jupiter. These variations in speed and direction are what cause phenomena like lunar eclipses and supermoons.
The Moon's gravitational pull on Earth is what causes ocean tides. As the Moon orbits Earth, its gravitational force pulls on the water in the oceans, causing the tides to rise and fall. The length of the lunar day and month can impact the strength and timing of tides on Earth.