Changes

|mhl=252.3 a<ref name=calc group=note>Calculated</ref>

|mhl=252.3 a<ref name=calc group=note>Calculated</ref>

}}

}}

A '''moon''' is a body of mass which orbits a [[planet]].<ref>A moon can also orbit another moon, creating a "moon moon" - this is theoretically repeatable, but anything past a moon moon is likely in an unstable orbit.</ref> The [[Earth]]'s Moon (sometimes known as "Luna") is a natural [[satellite]] orbiting Earth at an average distance of about 238,000 miles (380,000&nbsp;km). The orbital speed of the moon, combining with the reflection of sunlight, creates what we know as "phases of the moon." This in turn is the basis for our monthly calendar: a full (or new) moon occurs roughly once per month.<ref>https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/the-splendor-of-gods-creation/</ref>

A '''moon''' is a body of mass which orbits a [[planet]].<ref>A moon can also orbit another moon, creating a "moon moon" - this is theoretically repeatable, but anything past a moon moon is likely in an unstable orbit.</ref> The [[Earth]]'s Moon (sometimes known as "Luna") is a natural [[satellite]] orbiting Earth at an average distance of about 238,000 miles (380,000&nbsp;km). The orbital speed of the moon, combining with the reflection of sunlight, creates what we know as "phases of the moon." This, in turn, is the basis for our monthly calendar: a full (or new) moon occurs roughly once per month.<ref>https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/the-splendor-of-gods-creation/</ref> '''''The [[Bible]] states that the Moon was created separately on Day Four along with the Sun and stars, while [[science]] has no theory for the Moon's origin that is supported by any real evidence'''''.

Our Moon is unique in the solar system in its large relative size compared with the [[Earth]]. The Moon appears from the Earth to be the same size as the [[sun]], in perfect artistic symmetry, unlike any known other planet-moon system.  Moreover, unlike most planets in the [[solar system]], [[Earth]] has only one moon, which is designed in three remarkable ways: (1) it rotates and revolves such that only one side is ever visible to the Earth (a common characteristic seen in every single moon in the solar system<ref>https://science.nasa.gov/moon/tidal-locking/</ref>) (2) it is moving away at such a slow rate, it will not noticeably shrink in our sky for thousands of years, (3) its side that faces the Earth is smooth, while the side that remains hidden is jagged.  To those on [[Earth]], the Moon appears as an artistic disc that goes through phases of varying visibility from Earth.

Our Moon is unique in the solar system in its large relative size compared with the [[Earth]]. The Moon appears from the Earth to be the same size as the [[Sun]], in perfect artistic symmetry, unlike any known other planet-moon system.  Moreover, unlike most planets in the [[solar system]], [[Earth]] has only one moon, which is designed in three remarkable ways: (1) it rotates and revolves such that only one side is ever visible to the Earth (a common characteristic seen in every single moon in the solar system<ref>https://science.nasa.gov/moon/tidal-locking/</ref>) (2) it is moving away at such a slow rate, it will not noticeably shrink in our sky for thousands of years, (3) its side that faces the Earth is smooth, while the side that remains hidden is jagged.  To those on [[Earth]], the Moon appears as an artistic disc that goes through phases of varying visibility from Earth.

 

'''''The [[Bible]] states that the Moon was created separately on Day Four along with the Sun and stars, while [[science]] has no theory for the Moon's origin that is supported by any real evidence'''''.

==The Moon as God's creation==

==The Moon as God's creation==

===Rotation and revolution===

===Rotation and revolution===

The Moon presents the same side to Earth at all times.  That means that the rotation of the Earth offsets the separate effects of the lunar revolution. Physical explanations rely on [[tidal locking]], asserting that tidal forces on Earth caused a bulge on the Moon, thereby creating a drag on the rotation of the Moon until the same side always faced the Earth.<ref group=note>The same theory suggested that the planet [[Mercury]] had a similar locked rotation due to gravitational forces from the sun, such that the same side of Mercury always faces the sun. In fact, that is false.  [[Mercury]]'s tidal locking is incomplete and it does not always present the same face to the sun.</ref>  In fact, current tidal forces exerted by the Earth on the Moon cannot account fully for its bulge or egg shape.<ref>"[http://physics.fortlewis.edu/Astronomy/astronomy%20today/CHAISSON/AT308/HTML/AT30803.HTM Chapter 8, Section 3: The Rotation of the Moon]," "Astronomy Today", Department of Physics, Fort Lewis College, Durango, [[Colorado|CO]]. Accessed February 18, 2008</ref>

The Moon presents the same side to Earth at all times.  That means that the rotation of the Earth offsets the separate effects of the lunar revolution. Physical explanations rely on [[tidal locking]], asserting that tidal forces on Earth caused a bulge on the Moon, thereby creating a drag on the rotation of the Moon until the same side always faced the Earth.<ref group=note>The same theory suggested that the planet [[Mercury]] had a similar locked rotation due to gravitational forces from the Sun, such that the same side of Mercury always faces the Sun. In fact, that is false.  [[Mercury]]'s tidal locking is incomplete and it does not always present the same face to the Sun.</ref>  In fact, current tidal forces exerted by the Earth on the Moon cannot account fully for its bulge or egg shape.<ref>"[http://physics.fortlewis.edu/Astronomy/astronomy%20today/CHAISSON/AT308/HTML/AT30803.HTM Chapter 8, Section 3: The Rotation of the Moon]," "Astronomy Today", Department of Physics, Fort Lewis College, Durango, [[Colorado|CO]]. Accessed February 18, 2008</ref>

===Lunar origin theories===

===Lunar origin theories===

The current scientific consensus is that the Moon originated from a collision early in Earth's history which created an orbiting ring of debris from the [[iron]]-poor surface of the planet which eventually coalesced into the moon.<ref>http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=2198</ref>  

The current scientific consensus is that the Moon originated from a collision early in Earth's history, which created an orbiting ring of debris from the [[iron]]-poor surface of the planet that eventually coalesced into the Moon.<ref>http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=2198</ref>  

Biblical history records the Moon being created on the fourth day of [[creation week]], along with the Sun:

Biblical history records the Moon being created on the fourth day of [[creation week]], along with the Sun:

===Rate of recession===

===Rate of recession===

The Moon currently recedes from the Earth at a rate of 1.5 inches (3.8&nbsp;cm) per year<ref>NASA [http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/ApolloLaser.html Measuring the Moon's Distance], ''LPI Bulletin'', No. 72, August 1994.</ref> and is believed by [[atheist]]ic scientists to be 4.6 billion years old,<ref>NASA, [http://history.nasa.gov/SP-350/ch-15-2.html Apollo Expeditions to the Moon], Chapter 15.2.</ref>. Due to the pull of gravity slowing down the moon over time, an extrapolation backward in time would be very complicated using its observed rate of recession. Here is an attempt I found:<ref>https://www.desmos.com/calculator/oe8sunfxnm</ref>.

The Moon currently recedes from the Earth at a rate of 1.5 inches (3.8&nbsp;cm) per year<ref>NASA [http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/ApolloLaser.html Measuring the Moon's Distance], ''LPI Bulletin'', No. 72, August 1994.</ref> and is believed by [[atheist]]ic scientists to be 4.6 billion years old,<ref>NASA, [http://history.nasa.gov/SP-350/ch-15-2.html Apollo Expeditions to the Moon], Chapter 15.2.</ref>. Due to the pull of gravity slowing down the Moon over time, an extrapolation backward in time would be very complicated using its observed rate of recession.<ref>https://www.desmos.com/calculator/oe8sunfxnm</ref>.

The Moon could never have been closer than about 11,000 miles, or it would have been broken up by tidal forces, supporting that it only formed one distinct mass outside of that region.<ref name="js">Sarfati, Jonathan (September 1998). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/764/ "The moon: the light that rules the night".] ''Creation Ex Nihilo'' (Brisbane, QL, Australia: Answers in Genesis), vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 36–9. Reprinted at Creation.com website.</ref> If the rate of recession stayed constant at 3.8&nbsp;cm per year, it would take 9.6 billion years for the lunar distance to migrate from 11,000 miles to the present distance of about 240,000 miles.  However, a further principle would be needed to show the rate of recession would have been constant over the hypothetical 9.6-billion-year period.

The Moon could never have been closer than about 11,000 miles, or it would have been broken up by tidal forces, supporting that it only formed one distinct mass outside of that region.<ref name="js">Sarfati, Jonathan (September 1998). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/764/ "The moon: the light that rules the night".] ''Creation Ex Nihilo'' (Brisbane, QL, Australia: Answers in Genesis), vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 36–9. Reprinted at Creation.com website.</ref> If the rate of recession stayed constant at 3.8&nbsp;cm per year, it would take 9.6 billion years for the lunar distance to migrate from 11,000 miles to the present distance of about 240,000 miles.  However, a further principle would be needed to show the rate of recession would have been constant over the hypothetical 9.6-billion-year period.

===Impact craters===

===Impact craters===

Astronomers assume that crater impacts are a reliable indicator of the age of a celestial body. True to the form and principles of [[uniformitarianism]] (as applied to [[astronomy]] rather than to [[geology]]), any such estimation relies upon uniform constants and weather/erosion trends. Recent research into crater impacts on the moon suggests that many of the assumptions previously made are unwarranted. Bonnie Buratti of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has asserted that space weathering "takes place very rapidly on the Moon."<ref>David, Leonard. "[http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/lunar_impact_021214.html Lunar Crash of 1953: Impact Crater Identified]." <http://www.space.com>, December 14, 2002. Accessed January 16, 2008.</ref> Peter Brown of the University of Western Ontario insists that there are no absolute criteria for the dating of craters.<ref>Hecht, Jeff. "[http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3242 New crater revives Moon mystery]." <http://www.newscientist.com>, January 11, 2003. Accessed January 16, 2008.</ref>

Astronomers assume that crater impacts are a reliable indicator of the age of a celestial body. True to the form and principles of [[uniformitarianism]] (as applied to [[astronomy]] rather than to [[geology]]), any such estimation relies upon uniform constants and weather/erosion trends. Recent research into crater impacts on the Moon suggests that many of the assumptions previously made are unwarranted. Bonnie Buratti of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has asserted that space weathering "takes place very rapidly on the Moon."<ref>David, Leonard. "[http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/lunar_impact_021214.html Lunar Crash of 1953: Impact Crater Identified]." <http://www.space.com>, December 14, 2002. Accessed January 16, 2008.</ref> Peter Brown of the University of Western Ontario insists that there are no absolute criteria for the dating of craters.<ref>Hecht, Jeff. "[http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3242 New crater revives Moon mystery]." <http://www.newscientist.com>, January 11, 2003. Accessed January 16, 2008.</ref>

===Creationist models===

===Creationist models===

==Tides==

==Tides==

The gravitational force of the Moon causes the ocean [[tides]]; these tidal forces have other effects as well. These tidal forces have the effect of creating resistance which slows down the rotation of both objects. In the case of the Earth, the result is that the Earth's rotation slows on the order of one millisecond per century. The Moon's rotation is locked into its period of revolution, and the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

The gravitational force of the Moon causes the ocean [[tides]]; these tidal forces have other effects as well. These tidal forces have the effect of creating resistance, which slows down the rotation of both objects. In the case of the Earth, the result is that the Earth's rotation slows on the order of one millisecond per century. The Moon's rotation is locked into its period of revolution, and the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

==The "dark" or far side==

==The "dark" or far side==

The phrase "the ''dark'' side of the Moon" is inaccurate because the Moon does rotate relative to the Sun, with the same period as its period of revolution, once every 29 days. Our view of the Moon from the Earth always shows the same side of the Moon, with the same markings and features. When the Moon is full, the entire side that faces us is experiencing lunar "day" and is lit by the Sun. Two weeks later, when the Moon is new, the side that faces us is experiencing solar "night" and is unlit (and virtually invisible).

The phrase "the ''dark'' side of the Moon" is inaccurate because the Moon does rotate relative to the Sun, with the same period as its period of revolution, once every 29 days. Our view of the Moon from the Earth always shows the same side of the Moon, with the same markings and features. When the Moon is full, the entire side that faces us is experiencing lunar "day" and is lit by the Sun. Two weeks later, when the Moon is new, the side that faces us is experiencing solar "night" and is unlit (and virtually invisible).

The far side of the moon is far more heavily cratered than the near, and the predominant type of cratering is consistent with breccia-forming meteor impact. This would suggest that the far side suffered its bombardment in the latter of the two catastrophes that Humphreys suggests that the Moon has suffered.

The far side of the Moon is far more heavily cratered than the near, and the predominant type of cratering is consistent with breccia-forming meteor impact. This would suggest that the far side suffered its bombardment in the latter of the two catastrophes that Humphreys suggests that the Moon has suffered.

Due to a slight "wobble" in the lunar motion called ''libration,'' we actually see a little bit more than half of the Moon's surface; sometimes it is turned a bit one way and sometimes the other. However, nobody had any idea of what the far side of the Moon looked like until 1959, when a Soviet satellite photographed it and relayed pictures back.  

Due to a slight "wobble" in the lunar motion called ''libration,'' we actually see a little bit more than half of the Moon's surface; sometimes it is turned a bit one way and sometimes the other. However, nobody had any idea of what the far side of the Moon looked like until 1959, when a Soviet satellite photographed it and relayed pictures back.  

::I fear we'll come to harm."

::I fear we'll come to harm."

The effect known as "the old Moon in the new Moon's arms" can often be seen when the Moon is a narrow [[crescent]]. Within the intensely bright crescent, a dim and mysterious view of the entire circular moon is seen. The effect is also known as ''earthshine'' because it is light from the Sun reflected off the Earth to the Moon and back that lights up the darker portion of the Moon. The bright crescent is lit by the Sun and is in full daylight. The rest of the Moon is not lit by the Sun; but an [[astronaut]] standing in this area would see a "full Earth" dominating the nighttime sky, lighting it up by its earthshine. The brightness of Earthshine, and hence the visibility of the old Moon in the new Moon's arms, varies. When the Earth is covered with clouds, or when there is a lot of snow-pack on the side of the Earth facing the Moon, the Earth is white and bright and the Earthshine is intense. When the Earth looks like a "big, blue marble," it is less intense.  

The effect known as "the old Moon in the new Moon's arms" can often be seen when the Moon is a narrow [[crescent]]. Within the intensely bright crescent, a dim and mysterious view of the entire circular moon is seen. The effect is also known as ''earthshine'' because it is light from the Sun reflected off the Earth to the Moon and back that lights up the darker portion of the Moon. The bright crescent is lit by the Sun and is in full daylight. The rest of the Moon is not lit by the Sun; but an [[astronaut]] standing in this area would see a "full Earth" dominating the nighttime sky, lighting it up by its earthshine. The brightness of Earthshine, and hence the visibility of the old Moon in the new Moon's arms, varies. When the Earth is covered with clouds, or when there is a lot of snowpack on the side of the Earth facing the Moon, the Earth is white and bright, and the Earthshine is intense. When the Earth looks like a "big, blue marble," it is less intense.  

==Lunar calendars==

==Lunar calendars==

Throughout history, many calendar systems have been based on the phases of the moon.

Throughout history, many calendar systems have been based on the phases of the moon.

The months of the [[Islam|Muslim]] [[calendar]] are determined by observations of the [[hilal]], the moment at which the thin crescent moon first becomes visible. This marks the start of a month. Traditionally, and today in [[Pakistan]] and [[Jordan]], hilal is determined by actual observation and can be affected by weather and other factors. When following the traditional method, it is not actually possible to be certain precisely when future months will begin. In most Muslim countries, actual observation has been replaced by [[astronomy|astronomical]] rules.

The months of the [[Islam|Muslim]] [[calendar]] are determined by observations of the [[hilal]], the moment at which the thin crescent moon first becomes visible. This marks the start of a month. Traditionally, and today in [[Pakistan]] and [[Jordan]], the hilal is determined by actual observation and can be affected by weather and other factors. When following the traditional method, it is not actually possible to be certain precisely when future months will begin. In most Muslim countries, actual observation has been replaced by [[astronomy|astronomical]] rules.

== Magnetism Mystery ==

== Magnetism Mystery ==

Rocks on the Moon are magnetized, yet there is no magnetic field there today. In one new proposal, researchers at the University of California have suggested that the moon's solid-rock middle layer, called its mantle, stirs up its liquid iron core. The researchers believe this happens because the moon's core and its mantle rotate around slightly different axes, and the boundary between them is not quite spherical.

Rocks on the Moon are magnetized, yet there is no magnetic field there today. In one new proposal, researchers at the University of California have suggested that the moon's solid-rock middle layer, called its mantle, stirs up its liquid iron core. The researchers believe this happens because the moon's core and its mantle rotate around slightly different axes, and the boundary between them is not quite spherical.

The strength of this stirring is determined by the angle between the core and the mantle, and the distance between the Earth and the moon, because the tidal forces from the Earth cause the moon's mantle to rotate differently than the core.

The strength of this stirring is determined by the angle between the core and the mantle, and the distance between the Earth and the Moon, because the tidal forces from the Earth cause the Moon's mantle to rotate differently than the core.

This model would explain why the moon no longer has a magnetic field. Since the angle between the mantle and the core has narrowed over time, while the distance between the moon and the Earth has widened, this has caused the tidal forces to decrease steadily. While these forces used to be enough to generate a dynamo inside the moon, they aren't anymore.

This model would explain why the Moon no longer has a magnetic field. Since the angle between the mantle and the core has narrowed over time, while the distance between the moon and the Earth has widened, this has caused the tidal forces to decrease steadily. While these forces used to be enough to generate a dynamo inside the moon, they aren't anymore.

<ref>Moskowitz, Clara (2011). [https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/1109/Have-scientists-finally-solved-the-mystery-of-the-magnetic-moon "Have scientists finally solved the mystery of the magnetic moon?"] ''Christian Science Monitor'' website.</ref>

<ref>Moskowitz, Clara (2011). [https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/1109/Have-scientists-finally-solved-the-mystery-of-the-magnetic-moon "Have scientists finally solved the mystery of the magnetic moon?"] ''Christian Science Monitor'' website.</ref>