Quote:
Originally Posted by PINKY
Secondly, even if that did happen, the moon would retain its orbit around the sun. Remember there are many asteroids orbiting our sun much smaller than our moon  From what i understand anyway... |
Agree with the first point, unlikely but still possible...
Kinda disagree with the second thought (kinda), that if the Earth would vanish from existance (theoretically) the moon would orbit around the sun....but it all depends on the situation...
If the destruction of the Earth left debris of the planet while the moon was intact, the possibility that those debris would reunite (by means of gravitational pull) and the moon would then orbit the debris (since it still has mass) it's feasible and perhaps the debris can then proceed to unite and create a new planet (?), Big maybe...
But you really have to look at how the destruction happened and how bad it was, did the Earth shattered into different 'big' pieces that would then become asteroids and dissipate into different parts of the solar system?
If the moon is thrown off the orbit due to explosion/ destruction of the planet, then it 'runsaway' until it reaches a bigger, massive landmass and would attach itself to it's orbit. The sun being the biggest gravitational pull in our system makes sense, but one word: Momentum, huge maybe's here.
Technically speaking, yes you may be right in the sense that the moon may continue to orbit the sun after the Earth vanishes and may adopt some of the debris that was left off Earth if there is still any around, but this theory only works if...
A- Earth does not interfear with Moon's orbit during or after explosion/destruction/etc.
B- Moon does not interfear with debris from Earth's remains... such debris would cause the moon's orbit to change.
C- The force that created the destruction of Earth would not interfear with the moon...
D- No other parties or 'godly' or natural forces involved (a comet coming into our orbit at the same time that the destruction occured as an example)
Now, my thoughts are, whatever force that creates the Earth to be destroyed that severe, would be a pretty powerful one and thus could change the orbit of the Moon, since the moon is only 238,857 Miles away from Earth, it may seem alot but in astronomical distance, thats a pretty short trip.
The moon could be used as a form of "outpost" for an escapade, but as a form of new habitable planet, very far off. No atmosphere, weak gravity, even if there were liquids available it would evaporate unless an atmosphere were to be put in place, I can see how biodomes could work, but would be limiting possible resources.
Anywho, the point I was referring to is, our moon can be used as a form of outpost and connecting 'stop' toward other near planets, but as a form of lunar 'ark' it's really limited and short term.
As far as the asteroids go, they are smaller, but there are a crapload of them in one spot. Our asteroid belt is between Mars and Jupiter, one of the biggest gravitional pulls that create this belt is massive Jupiter, unabling the asteroids to create a planet of their own or dispersing around...
Between planet Earth, we have Mars and Venus, nowhere as big as Jupiter. There are also many asteroids flying about, with no destination nor orbit... there is also the chance that the moon could also become a lone 'asteroid' if the force that pushed it was stronger than the gravitational pull it held... but this is really all theoretical.
Your right, it could stay in orbit with the moon if all the conditions are met, stable and unchanged. But if the destruction of our planet and the force that created it exceeds the force of the gravitational orbit that the moon holds, well... who knows...
(dammit Im late for work^^)