Re: Clockmaker

In the book Rare Earth, by Ward and Brownlee, the primary effect is
given as stabilizing the obliquity of the earth's orbit (p 223).
Other effects are also listed. This can vary wildly in planets without
moons, playing havoc with climate.

--Tim

Mervin Bitikofer wrote:

> My wife just suggested this would diminish the population of
> "lunatics". Tidal activity & animals that thrive on the cycle of
> tidal infilling & draining would not be able to flourish in the same
> way. Also we wouldn't have tidal drag slowing the earth down slightly
> -- what is it -- a few seconds every century or something like that?
> Mostly, though, the skies would just be a bit more boring. (Or more
> exciting if the moon was your only source of light pollution while you
> are star gazing.)
>
> --merv
>
> Debbie Mann wrote:
>
>> What would happen if we didn't have a moon. I heard on Discovery that it
>> stabilizes the orbit. And what would happen if the earth rotated at a
>> different speed - other than changing the lengths of the days? Would it
>> destabilize anything?
>>
>> Debbie Mann
>> (765) 477-1776
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
Received on Sun Mar 19 21:40:24 2006