9 replies to this topic

[Lucas Pham]

In the Movie Star Trek VI, the Klingon moon of Praxis exploded causing a massive cloud of dust around their planet. It was estimated that in 50 years from that event, the Klingon world would run out of oxygen. But that was just a Movie. .... My Question Is, If Our moon were to explode (for whatever reason), would that have a similar effect upon us on Earth as it had in the movie? Would it be many times worse or less? Just what Would happen to Life on Earth if it Really did happen to our moon?

[Rowro]

Are we talking about the moon disappearing or exploding? If it exploded my most immediate concern would be chunks of it hitting the earth which could do catastrophic damage and possibly end life on Earth. If by some miracle the moon blew up into tiny pieces or whatever then it would have a pretty significant effect on our tides. Tides would be consistent from day to day since it would no longer be effected by lunar cycles. Some species would die out that relied on the moon for light at night for hunting. Life would go on though.

What you really need to worry about is the super volcano at Yellowstone. If that goes off we're all dead.

[Ahajir]

How do you know the moon is really up there?

If it exploded we would probably be hit by a lot of meteors after a year or so.

There would be no more tidal change and some plants and animals would die out.

Some other animals and plants might appear or evolve after a certain period.

And the most important thing is that it would be really really dark in places where there is no public lighting.
Also I'm not sure but I think you would be able to see stars more clearly.

[Graiden]

Actually, I believe a more disastrous effect would take part if the Moon exploded. It doesn't matter if it disappears in small particles or large asteroids, we would definitely be heavily affected. The tidal change would be different and water would invade the earth, the attraction between Earth and Moon would cause imbalance, the planet would be continuously hit by rocks and they will pretty much hit anything, causing tsunamis and earthquakes. Technology would be totally devastated, people would run in panik and civilisation would mostly disappear. We're in a very poor equilibrium with the universe, we should enjoy our life more and stop destroying the planet so much. We're lucky enough to have it like this and be able to live on it.

[o0jopak0o]

Well they say that if the moon exploded, the earth would spin violently that it will break it self apart. The moon is like our gyroscope or some sort that help stabilize our planet.

That is why people are worried that the moon is slowly getting far away from us and in centuries more, we will suffer tidal consequences and such.

[His Dudeness]

If it exploded I imagine big pieces of moon would come flying towards the earth with devastating effects lol, if the moon just disappeared there would be nothing to control the tide so I assume places might flood.

[Archstorm]

That's no moon. It's a space station.

[graphicjack]

sure, like the death star right. that would explain the huge craters we can see from earth without equipment.

[TheArkitect Staff]

First of all, Archstorm, you're awesome.
"That's impossible, it's too big to be a space station!"

Anyways, if the moon really was to explode, the results would be catastrophic, if not cataclysmic. Let's go with two scenarios.

1. The moon disappears, or disintegrates into particles too small to really affect the earth, we would still experience rather terrifying consequences. Tides would no longer depend on the moons gravitational force, and the oceans would become unpredictable. Ways of submarine life would die out. Additionally, Earth's own gravitational orbit around the sun would be ever so slightly altered, which could potentially cause us to move into an orbit closer to the sun, causing the atmosphere to ignite and burn the planet into a ball of molten slag to be sold away by Slaveens, or move farther away from the sun, effectively creating another ice age and freezing over the surface of the planet. Either way, all life on Earth ends.

2. If the moon literally exploded, sending large lunar chunks into our general direction, our demise would be much flashier, and much faster. Assuming the explosion originated in the center of the moon and sent all debris out in a perfect 360 decree arc, I'd say still over half of the mass of the moon would enter our atmosphere at some point or another. It would be a massive asteroid storm on a nearly global level. Depending on the size and speed of the moon rocks, the storm would either devastate the surface of our planet and millions would lose their lives, or- if the explosion sent asteroids moving at nearly the speed of light- would crush through the entire planet, essentially causing the planet to explode into a state of plasma with fired particles shooting out the back side of the impact, the fiery remnants of earth scouring the surfaces of Mars and Venus.

So there ya have it. Either way, bad things happen.

[pickles125]

Watch Moonquake the moon doesn't explode but there are huge chunks raining down from above and freak storms and stuff I think i watched it a while ago.