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xkcd #2908: Moon Armor Index (imgs.xkcd.com)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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https://xkcd.com/2908

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Astronomers are a little unsure of the applicability of this index, but NASA's Planetary Protection Officer is all in favor.

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[–] [email protected] 89 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (14 children)

One of my all-time favourite facts is that solar eclipses are actually a very rare thing to happen in space. There is no reason why but our moon just happens to be the right size/distance to have this happen.

I've never seen one in person, but the next one is on the 8th of April crossing Mexico and the US. If you have the chance and are able, go check it out, if only to gloat on an internet stranger longing for his first total eclipse.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago (3 children)

As Moon is slowly moving away, at some point in the future there will be no more full eclipse. And there is 2 full eclipse by year !

[–] [email protected] -5 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Nah, it's just a moving away, then moving closer again thing over millions of years. Balance between gravity and centrifugal force.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago

Ok I read somewhere it would reach it's farthest orbit (29d and half) and stays there then.

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