In the year 1955, the song "Chanda Mama Door Ke" from the film Vachan became very popular. You too must have heard this song sometime or the other. The thing to note is that when this song was written on the moon. During that time only a few years had passed since India became independent. This was the time when India's scientific progress was very slow. ISRO was also not formed during this period. ISRO was established in the year 1969. Four decades after its inception, ISRO was successful in reaching the lunar orbit. The Chandrayaan mission, launched in 2008, served as a new inspiration to Indian scientists. After this mission, ISRO scientists start working on Chandrayaan 2. Chandrayaan 2 is launched on July 22, 2019, i.e. 11 years after the launch of Chandrayaan 1. The objective of this mission was to make a soft landing on the south pole of the Moon. Unfortunately, a software glitch causes the lander to crash land on the lunar surface.
However, not being disheartened by this failure, ISRO starts preparing for Chandrayaan 3 again. After 4 years, on July 14, 2023, Chandrayaan 3 is launched. The lander of Chandrayaan 3 can make a soft landing on the lunar surface tomorrow i.e. on 23 August. The moon is hiding many secrets within itself. To know these secrets, the world's big space agencies are sending missions like Chandrayaan, Artemis, and Luna to the moon. And today, apart from these missions, we imagine an interesting idea about the moon. Have you ever thought about what would happen to the earth if the moon suddenly disappeared?
The moon has a huge contribution to the balance of the earth. The moon plays a huge role in controlling Earth's weather, from ocean tides to our sleep cycles. Moon is the closest celestial satellite to our Earth. In such a situation, the effect of its gravity falls on the earth. As the moon's gravity pulls our rotating Earth toward itself, the seas and oceans respond. This is the reason why big tides come. Due to the gravity of the Moon, the Earth is inclined at 23.5 degrees to the Sun. This is one of the major reasons why the Earth has many seasons and habitable climates.
If the Moon suddenly disappears, its gravitational influence is lost. Due to this, the effect of the moon on our rotating earth. That too will end. In such a situation, one day of the earth will be of only 6 to 8 hours.
Due to the reduction of the gravitational effect of the Moon, the Earth will rotate three to four times faster than it is now. If this happens, we will have to face winds at a speed of more than 480 km. In such a situation, insects, birds, and many animals would not survive on the earth. Apart from this, many creatures living in the sea will become completely extinct. The thing to note is that tides will come into the oceans during this time too, but they will be controlled by the gravitational pull of the Sun instead of the Moon. Due to the gravitational effect of the Sun, very large waves will rise from these oceans. These waves will completely submerge the cost line. Because of this millions of lives will be lost.
These ocean currents will completely change the regional climate. Due to the absence of the Moon, along with the Sun, Mars and other planets will also have a gravitational effect on the Earth. This will make the Earth very unstable, due to which there will be dramatic changes in the seasons. In such a situation, our climate will not be livable at all. Crops will not be able to be cultivated. Not only this, but due to this a new cold age will start on the earth.
(PC: iStock)
