If the Earth had no moon

[Jogger]

Folks,

It just amazes me that if the Earth had no moon there would be no civilization. We wouldn't be talking with one another in this forum.

What's also amazing is that the object that struck the Earth so long ago was just the right size to create the Moon. If the object had been smaller, the debris would not have been significant enough to create the Moon but may have created a ring around the Earth. If the object had been larger, the Earth may have been completely destroyed.

If the Earth had no moon, what sort of life would be on Earth today? There would be no intelligent life, the Earth would not be stable enough to support it.

Does this mean that intelligent life in the universe is rare?

[CrystalSword]

I would say intelligent life in the universe is rare. The simple reason for this is that we have not observed any intelligent life outside of our planet yet, nor any life for that matter.

[Astroboy]

I dont think there much of a difference anyway. Moon or no moon, life wud've been still around anyhow. Depending on the formation process. if something has happened before us and the moon went off different way then we prolly be still around... as the history holds different version anyway...

[Protostar]

Why would anyone want to think of such a thing?
The moon reflects the suns light so we can see it.
Could you imagine how big the moon was thousands of years ago? It
must have been HUGE ah, but it is leaving us, slowly but surely...,

[Jogger]

Without the Moon the Earth would wobble on its axis like a top. With the Moon the Earth still wobbles but is much more stable. So it seems very likely that without the Moon neither dinosaurs nor man would have walked the Earth...

[nrj]

Conjecture, nothing else.

Since we haven't seen any other planet or such with life, we can not even begin with calculating the chances of life to start.

[Virgo]

Since we haven't seen any other planet or such with life

Correction, we haven't seen life outside our solar system.
We've dug up some bacteries on Mars though. And there's definetly water (a.k.a. the main source of life) on Europa.

So 'life' may not be as unique as we might want to beleive.
Wheter we are religious or not...

[nrj]

Are we observing life on Mars and Europa? No. Although we've found bacteria on Mars (I trust you on this) we can't really say this is enough hard data to create a model of life containing planets.

Therefore, saying that a natural satellite is essantial for a planet to harbour life is nothing but conjecture. No matter the religous beliefs...

[Virgo]

I'm not saying that you can prove anything with it.
What I am saying, is that if you have an endless universe, with endless numbers of planets and stars and with endless upon endless of possibilities, it ain't gonna happend that we are alone in the universe. And if we find life (although in bacteria form) on Mars, a neighbour in our own solar system, intelligent life might be closer than we dare to think.

And yes, beleive allmighty me ;)

[Jogger]

Conjecture, nothing else.

Since we haven't seen any other planet or such with life, we can not even begin with calculating the chances of life to start.

I didn't say that without the Moon life would not have started on Earth. Life very well may have started without it. I said it would be very unlikely man or dinosaurs would have walked the Earth without it.

[nrj]

I didn't say that without the Moon life would not have started on Earth. Life very well may have started without it. I said it would be very unlikely man or dinosaurs would have walked the Earth without it.

Well, that I can agree with. Without the moon, the unstable climate would've not made it possible for us to evolve.

[Protostar]

It has been said that many millions of years ago when there were Dinosaurs that the moon was closer thereby expanding the size of the life forms that grew here.
Now, I don't know if it's true, but its strange speculation anyway!