Why Is the Moon Moving Away From Earth?
Every year the Moon moves about 3.8 centimetres farther from Earth. Lasers fired at reflectors left on the lunar surface measure it precisely, and the same process is slowly lengthening our days.
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Science & Space
Discoveries from the lab to the edge of the solar system.
Science explains the world around us, and space puts our own planet in perspective. Our Science & Space stories take discoveries that sound remote, such as the Moon slowly drifting away from Earth, and explain how scientists know what they know, which experiments and instruments are involved, and why the results matter. We favour clear explanations of mechanisms over jargon, use figures from research institutions and space agencies, and link to sources wherever possible. Expect stories from laboratories, observatories and missions around the world, from Apollo-era experiments that still run to the latest findings.