Changes

The '''Moon''' is Earth's satellite and orbits it<ref>It is more correct to say that the Earth and the Moon orbit each other around a gravitational midpoint called the ''barycenter.'' This point is, however, actually inside the Earth, about 3/4 from its center. It is not the Earth, but the barycenter of the Earth/Moon system, that orbits the Sun in a near-perfect ellipse. Relative to this ellipse, Earth is 3,000 miles closer to the Sun at full moon and 3,000 miles further from the Sun at new moon.</ref> at an average distance of about 238,000 miles (380,000 km.)  

The '''Moon''' is Earth's satellite and orbits it.<ref>It is more correct to say that the Earth and the Moon orbit each other around a gravitational midpoint called the ''barycenter.'' This point is, however, actually inside the Earth, about 3/4 from its center. It is not the Earth, but the barycenter of the Earth/Moon system, that orbits the Sun in a near-perfect ellipse. Relative to this ellipse, Earth is 3,000 miles closer to the Sun at full moon and 3,000 miles further from the Sun at new moon.</ref> at an average distance of about 238,000 miles (380,000 km.)  

When speaking of things having to do with the moon, the adjective ''lunar'' is used. The Greek-derived prefix ''seleno-'' is used as well; for example, the science of mapping the moon is called [[selenography]].

When speaking of things having to do with the moon, the adjective ''lunar'' is used. The Greek-derived prefix ''seleno-'' is used as well; for example, the science of mapping the moon is called [[selenography]].

Current tidal forces exerted by the Earth on the Moon cannot account fully for its bulge or egg shape, though accounting for greater tidal forces in the past may explain this discrepancy.<ref>http://physics.fortlewis.edu/Astronomy/astronomy%20today/CHAISSON/AT308/HTML/AT30803.HTM</ref>

Current tidal forces exerted by the Earth on the Moon cannot account fully for its bulge or egg shape, though accounting for greater tidal forces in the past may explain this discrepancy.<ref>http://physics.fortlewis.edu/Astronomy/astronomy%20today/CHAISSON/AT308/HTML/AT30803.HTM</ref>

3.  The accepted [[Moon Theories|theory]] by non-creationist scientists for the origin of the Moon was disproved by examining the lunar rocks, and learning that the Moon's surface lacks the abundant [[iron]] that permeates the Earth. For over a decade there was no accepted theory for the origin of the Moon, and no testable non-creation theory exists today.  Some scientists have proposed 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>  Other scientists have criticized this because the Moon lacks many materials that permeate the Earth.<ref>[[Moon Theories]].

3.  The accepted [[Moon Theories|theory]] by non-creationist scientists for the origin of the Moon was disproved by examining the lunar rocks, and learning that the Moon's surface lacks the abundant [[iron]] that permeates the Earth. For over a decade there was no accepted theory for the origin of the Moon, and no testable non-creation theory exists today.  Some scientists have proposed 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>  Other scientists have criticized this because the Moon lacks many materials that permeate the Earth.<ref>[[Moon Theories]]</ref>

4.  The Moon is currently receding from the Earth at less than 6 inches per year. The Moon could never have been closer than about 11,000 miles or it would have been broken up by tidal forces. If the rate of recession is assumed to have averaged about 6 inches per year, the Moon's present distance of about 250,000 miles implies an age for the Moon of no more than 2.6 billion years.  However, the tidal forces between Earth and Moon are not constant, and so simply extrapolating from the current rate of change is not strictly valid.

4.  The Moon is currently receding from the Earth at less than 6 inches per year. The Moon could never have been closer than about 11,000 miles or it would have been broken up by tidal forces. If the rate of recession is assumed to have averaged about 6 inches per year, the Moon's present distance of about 250,000 miles implies an age for the Moon of no more than 2.6 billion years.  However, the tidal forces between Earth and Moon are not constant, and so simply extrapolating from the current rate of change is not strictly valid.