Editing 2809: Moon
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Other than this, Earth is the only accepted planet we're currently aware of that has a satellite that's so visible from its surface. | Other than this, Earth is the only accepted planet we're currently aware of that has a satellite that's so visible from its surface. | ||
β | The title text | + | The title text claims that, other than being "pretty", the Moon doesn't impact us, the subverts it by mentioning substantial impacts it has on Earth. Having such a large satellite so close has impacts that we take for granted only because we're used to them, but if they hadn't always existed, they'd seem unbelievable. One is that, for half the lunar cycle, the moon reflects enough light to produce visibility at night. The other impact is tides, since the gravitational pull of the Moon is large enough to alter the surfaces of oceans, causing shorelines to shift on a daily cycle. The text mentions these dismissively, in a deliberate contrast with their huge significance. Moonlight alters the illumination cycle of the planet to a significant degree, which changes how both humans and other animals operate at night, even before the advent of artificial lighting. Tides had major impacts on the development of life, continue to affect ecosystems, and play an essential role in our ability to interact with the oceans. If someone from a planet without such a large moon were to observe these impacts, they'd likely be shocked and amazed by them, but we barely notice them. |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== |