Recent speculation has emerged regarding the Moon’s gradual movement away from Earth, prompting questions about potential impacts on climate and human life. Understanding these shifts requires a glance at the fundamental orbital mechanics at play.
Sonni Setiawan, a lecturer in the Department of Geophysics and Meteorology at IPB University, explained that the phenomenon is linked to the elliptical, rather than perfectly circular, shape of the Moon’s orbit. “The effect of the Moon moving away from Earth is a consequence of the Moon’s revolution around the Earth in an elliptical orbit. Notice times when the Moon is at its closest point (perigee) and farthest point (apogee) in each period of revolution,” Setiawan stated, according to ipb.ac.id on Monday, December 9, 2026.
A similar pattern applies to Earth’s orbit around the Sun, with perihelion occurring in January and aphelion in July each year. Setiawan emphasized that this astronomical phenomenon is a natural process and should not cause undue alarm. While the effects aren’t direct, they manifest through specific mechanisms on Earth.
For example, the Moon’s gravitational pull influences ocean tides. Rising sea levels due to these tides can impact fishing activities and coastal regions. “The phenomenon of the Moon moving away from Earth does not have a direct impact on humans in everyday life. The effects are only felt through other mechanisms,” he said.
Regarding climate systems, the phenomenon also doesn’t have a direct impact. “As for the climate system, it’s not direct, because the duration of climate is annual to decades,” Setiawan explained. He noted that external factors influencing climate, related to Earth’s orientation towards the sun, are more significant. These include fluctuations in Earth’s orbital eccentricity, changes in obliquity (axial tilt), and changes in precession of Earth’s rotational axis – collectively known as the Milankovitch Cycles.
Each of these components undergoes change over different periods. Fluctuations in Earth’s orbital eccentricity occur every 100,000 to 400,000 years, changes in Earth’s obliquity every 41,000 years, and changes in Earth’s precession every 26,000 years. “These changes in Earth’s orientation cause changes in solar radiation received by Earth, which is the main energy source for Earth’s climate, and therefore these changes affect Earth’s climate on a timescale of thousands to hundreds of thousands of years,” he added.
Beyond Earth’s orientation, planetary constellations within the solar system can also alter Earth’s atmosphere. When planets align in conjunction, the resulting gravitational force can influence atmospheric conditions. “Planetary constellations in a state of conjunction can cause water vapor to rise, increasing the potential for cloud formation. Because planetary conjunctions occur on the order of hundreds of years and have a global effect, this can cause changes in the climate system,” Setiawan stated.
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(REN)
