The word “exosphere” was proposed by Lyman Spitzer to designate the outer part of a planetary atmosphere, defined as the region where the density is low enough to describe it as a collisionless region. Since the beginning of the space era, it was discovered that the major neutral constituent of Earth’s exosphere is atomic hydrogen, and Shklovsky (1959) coined the word “geocorona” to designate the H component of the exosphere.
I didn’t read the whole paper obviously but this part makes it sound like you’re talking about the exosphere in which, by definition, there might be more gas molecules than elsewhere but few enough that they’re unlikely to run into them, or they’re unlikely to run into each other maybe IDK.
Obviously, if there was a significant atmosphere the moon would experience atmospheric drag and would fall to earth.
Obviously, if there was a significant atmosphere the moon would experience atmospheric drag and would fall to earth.
Would it?
The Moon is slowly drifting further away because Earth’s rotation is significantly faster than the lunar orbit. Some of Earth’s rotational energy is bled into the lunar orbit, causing it to increase in height, which in turn lowers its orbital period.
If there was a significant atmosphere for Earth at that height, you’d think it would actually give the Moon a boost
I didn’t read the whole paper obviously but this part makes it sound like you’re talking about the exosphere in which, by definition, there might be more gas molecules than elsewhere but few enough that they’re unlikely to run into them, or they’re unlikely to run into each other maybe IDK.
Obviously, if there was a significant atmosphere the moon would experience atmospheric drag and would fall to earth.
Would it?
The Moon is slowly drifting further away because Earth’s rotation is significantly faster than the lunar orbit. Some of Earth’s rotational energy is bled into the lunar orbit, causing it to increase in height, which in turn lowers its orbital period.
If there was a significant atmosphere for Earth at that height, you’d think it would actually give the Moon a boost