The moon is 4.5 billions years old and formed probably as a  result of collision of a small planet or asteroid with the young earth. This event in celestial space threw out heavy amount of debris,  which gradually coalesced in the space to be called as moon – the natural satellite of the earth. The moon orbits the earth from east to west and is held in orbit by earth’s gravity.  It is made of layered structure similar to earth and compose of same chemical elements as that of earth, but in different proportions.

The diameter of the moon is about 5470 km -  just over a quarter of that of the earth. The moon does not emit light but it simply reflects the sunlight falls on it. This reflected light which falls on the earth is cool, soothing and romantic, which fills the mind space of the humans with positive feelings and emotions.  There are different phases of the moon depending on how much of the near side is in the sunlight. As the moon orbits the earth, the amount of its sunlit surface visible fro  earth changes. These phases of the moon begin with New Moon when only a tiny silver is visible. The lit area waxes until the full moon is visible and then it starts waning ending with three days when the moon is totally dark. The image in the next page shows the phases of the moon---

The moon takes 27.5 days to orbit the earth during which time it also rotates on its own axis. The moon complete one orbit around the earth in 364 days where as the earth takes 365 days to orbit the sun. Rotational velocity  of the earth is gradually reducing due to moon’s effect on earth, which creates the ebb and flow of the tides and causes other disturbances.  The tides are  caused by two things – the centrifugal force which is the tendency of  rotating objects to move away from the centre rotation and by the force of gravity, particularly the gravitational pull of the moon.

Comparatively the sun has a lesser extent of gravitational pull on the earth. There is constant shifting of planet’s water masses as they flow around land masses and channels producing   friction, slowing down earth’s rotation. This slowing down process takes place in a very in a tiny rate and difficult to detect within a life time. The slowing down process makes the day longer. In 100 years , a day will be around 2 millisecond longer. Around 370 million years ago a year was 400 days long and today it is 365 days. Similarly earth today takes 24 hours to revolve around the sun whereas 400 million years ago it tool 22 hours.

(sun)

This slow down of rate of rotation can be understood when we measure  in its geological terms – the span of time  in which rocks of the planet were created and gradually now in the process of worning out.

(moon)

Similarly at the same time, the moon is orbiting the earth more slowly and moving few meters farther away every year. The moon’s rate of rotation has slowed down to the point where one side of it always faces the earth.  The complex interaction of earth – moon system still to be fully comprehended . Moon being a natural satellite of earth takes same time to orbit around its axis and orbit around earth in 27.5 days. Due to this interaction, of two major phenomena take place namely the centrifugal force causing moving away from centre of  rotation and the second is force of gravitational pull of the moon.

Both these two factors cause tide in the ocean and the effect of tide is seen in the movement of atmosphere and deformation of the earth crust. The tides cause constant shifting of planet’s water masses as they move through channels and landmasses producing friction which absorb energy  acting as brake to the orbit of moon and worning out rocks of our planet.

(moon around earth)

(moon around earth and earth around sun)

In addition to natural causes, man’s intervention in space , water and  air also results in slowing down orbiting of moon around earth and earth around sun, in addition to orbiting in their own axis. The cumulative result of these natural and man made causes gradually reducing the number of days in a year may lead to dissolution of earth in about 4440 million years (as number of days in a year has reduced to 365 days from 400 days  in 370 million years ago). Such events in time caused disturbances and peacelessness in the biosphere as a result the time of dissolution of the present planet/universe may be expedited. 

 All these destructive causes need  detail investigation and research to prolong the life of the earth. One of the crucial determinants is the “time calendar” which should be designed to bring peace to biosphere and human activities. Unless we acknowledge moon’s role which is the nearest and the only natural satellite of earth ; in determining time calendar   of truth, order and harmony, we may quickly dissolve the earth and universe and revert back to the point of “singularity” . This calls for designing of “Peace Calendar” to prolong the life of our planet and the universe, in which the Moon plays an active role.

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