The Moon and the Earth are both fascinating celestial bodies, but they couldn’t be more different in size, with the Moon being about one-quarter of the size of Earth. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if the two were of equal size, wonder no more! We’ve created an infographic showing you exactly what it would look like. Enjoy! And don’t forget to share!
The tides
The Moon’s gravity affects the oceans’ tides, so if the Earth and Moon were the same size, the tides would be much higher. The oceans would rise up and cover all of the land, including all of the mountains. The water would eventually reach so high that it would cover even the tallest buildings. Everyone would have to live in boats or on rafts, and we would have to learn how to fish and grow crops in the water. Eventually, the planet would dry out because there wouldn’t be any more rain. There wouldn’t be any more sunlight because Earth’s atmosphere is created by the Sun, but with no sun there is no more atmosphere for light to reflect off of and bounce back down onto us. We’d all die from a lack of air and water! What will happen if the Earth and Moon are of the same size? They’re not – they just seem that way sometimes. In reality, the Earth has an average diameter of 12,742 kilometers (7900 miles) while the Moon has an average diameter of 3476 kilometers (2160 miles). So what appears as a full moon during these times isn’t quite as big as you think.
The night sky
If the Earth and Moon were the same size, the night sky would look very different. The stars would be much dimmer, because the Moon would block a lot of their light. And the sky would be mostly dark, because there wouldn’t be any sunlight reflecting off the Moon. But there would still be some light, from the Sun and from other stars. And it would be enough to see by. Maybe even more than enough! But when you looked up at the sky, all you would see is black. The difference between daytime and nighttime on this world would be almost nonexistent. That might sound nice for people who want to sleep all day, but for everyone else it could get really boring without the moonlight on our skin or twilight turning into darkness in an instant. Without knowing what time it is, we couldn’t tell if we had been outside too long and needed to head back inside before getting cold. There would also be no seasons—without the moon changing shape as it orbits around us, the seasons wouldn’t change either. It’s hard to imagine how plants could grow with so little variation in sunlight over time.
In fact, if they did grow they probably wouldn’t flower at all because they need flowers’ colors to attract pollinators like bees. We’d have a hard time studying anything in the sky, including ourselves: Astronomers are sometimes able to use the light that comes from distant objects (like quasars) to study space and everything in it. But there wouldn’t be any stars or galaxies visible from Earth if both the Earth and Moon were about the same size. That means that unless astronomers went looking for planets orbiting other suns, we’d have no way of studying anything beyond our own solar system.
Daytime sky
The first thing you’d notice is that the sky would be very different. The Sun would appear much smaller, and it would be harder to tell when it was daytime. The Moon would also look a lot bigger, which could be both disorienting and beautiful. Without the dark night sky as a backdrop, the stars would be much harder to see. And finally, there would be no eclipses! We wouldn’t have total solar eclipses because we’d have just one big moon in the sky, so only part of it would get blocked by the Earth during an eclipse. We wouldn’t have lunar eclipses either since we only have one moon in our sky, so there’s nothing for the Earth to cover up during an eclipse. Plus without all those lovely craters on our moon, what else would we use for inspiration in science class? Kids would probably be pretty bummed out about having to learn about asteroids instead. On the other hand, at least we’d never have to worry about getting hit by meteors or space debris again. The atmosphere would most likely stay intact, though it might thin out a bit more than usual. There are some possible positives to this scenario: Since the Earth rotates slower with two moons, days and nights would last longer than they do now. That means there could be more time for sleep and relaxation – assuming you can even find enough hours in your day between sunrise and sunset! It might take us humans awhile to adjust to living on a planet with two moons – but I think we’ll come around eventually…
Daytime shadows
If the Earth and Moon were the same size, our days would be much shorter! The shadows cast by the Sun would be much smaller, because the Sun would appear smaller in the sky. In fact, it would be so bright that it would be hard to look at during the day! We would also have to deal with high tides much more often, since the Moon’s gravity would have a bigger effect on our oceans. And if there was no atmosphere on Earth, we would not be able to breathe or live outside! It is a good thing that the Earth is bigger than the Moon. It is interesting to think about what life would be like if things were different! There are many ways that our world could change if they were switched, and I am glad they are not. Life is complicated enough as it is!
So while it may seem convenient for all of us to live closer together without having to commute from one side of Earth to another every day, there are some pretty big reasons why you should feel very grateful that we do not all exist on one giant planet instead! And don’t forget – science is fun! Just try and imagine how strange life would be living on a giant planet just like ours…imagine walking under the moonlight here on EARTH. That kind of stuff can get creepy…but mostly cool.
Eclipse shadow
A total eclipse of the Sun would be an amazing sight if the Earth and Moon were the same size. The disk of the Moon would completely cover the Sun, making for a spectacular show in the sky. However, there would also be some major consequences for life on Earth. Without the Sun’s light and heat, our planet would quickly become a frozen wasteland. Plants would die, animals would perish, and humans would freeze to death. It would take several years before we could even live again. For this reason, it is best that the Earth and Moon are not the same size!
Astronomers have discovered exoplanets that orbit incredibly close to their parent stars—sometimes much closer than Mercury orbits around our Sun. Most of these planets are way too hot to support life, but scientists think it might be possible for certain ones to hold liquid water on their surfaces. These worlds may resemble what Earth was like billions of years ago, before photosynthesis evolved: hot with no ozone layer blocking harmful UV radiation from space.
Eclipses cycle
If the Earth and Moon were the same size, eclipses would happen much more frequently. In fact, there would be an eclipse every month! The reason for this is that the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon would be perfect for an eclipse to occur. However, this would also mean that there would be no more tides. The gravitational pull between the two bodies would be equal, so there would be no bulge on either side. If they are the same size, then there would not be any tidal force. Tides exist because one body (the Earth) is significantly larger than the other (the Moon). As a result, the tidal forces will always create a noticeable difference in height in both oceans and land. These differences create high-and-low tide cycles. The cycles come from how fast each body rotates around the other. For example, since it takes the Earth longer to rotate around the Moon than it does for us to rotate around our own axis, we experience more lunar gravity with respect to our own planet’s gravity than people living closer to the equator do.
Geometry
If the Earth and Moon were the same size, they would be spheres of equal size. The moon’s orbit would be much closer to the earth, and it would not appear to go through phases. Instead, it would be a circle around the earth. The tides would be much higher than they are now, as the gravitational pull between the two bodies would be much stronger. Waves would also be significantly more powerful. For example, there would be large tsunamis that happen every few days or so. Earthquakes caused by earthquakes would become extremely violent. Coastal areas with high tidal ranges would be uninhabitable because of the constant tsunami risk. However, coastal areas with low tidal ranges could experience more frequent low-level floods when storms hit land. Storms at sea would be quite common due to increased wind speeds and precipitation rates. Land masses in higher latitudes such as Europe, Canada, Greenland, and Russia may experience near year-round summer conditions if the Earth’s rotational axis remained unchanged from its current state. There is a possibility that this scenario could produce global temperature changes on an unprecedented scale with devastating consequences for life on Earth in ways we cannot yet predict.
Mass relations
The gravitational force between two objects is proportional to the mass of each object. If the Earth and Moon had the same mass, then the gravitational force between them would be the same. The orbital period of a satellite is also proportional to the mass of the object it orbits. If the Earth and Moon had the same mass, then they would have the same orbital period. The tidal force exerted by an object on another object is also proportional to the mass of each object. If the Earth and Moon had the same mass, then the tidal force exerted by both objects on each other would be equal. All of these factors show that if both the Earth and Moon were equally massive, there wouldn’t be any significant difference in their relative positions or behavior. But one major effect would be that the Earth’s atmosphere would slowly escape into space due to reduced gravity. Our moon would orbit the Earth at a distance of around 100 kilometers. Life on Earth would still exist, but with some important differences. There might not be life underground because rocks may not get exposed to enough light for photosynthesis to occur. Photosynthesis occurs when plants use energy from sunlight to produce food from carbon dioxide and water. Therefore, most plants may only grow near large bodies of water like oceans or lakes because this provides more access to sunlight for photosynthesis.
FAQ
How big is Earth compared to the moon?
In terms of size and mass, Earth is much larger than the Moon. The Moon is substantially smaller than Earth, with a diameter of only about 3,474 kilometers (2,159 miles), whereas Earth has a diameter of around 12,742 kilometers (7,918 miles). Earth is almost 50 times larger than the Moon in terms of volume. With an approximate mass of 81 times that of the Moon, the Earth is likewise far heavier than the Moon. Because of the differences in size and mass between the two celestial bodies, the Moon is a natural satellite of Earth, and the Earth’s gravitational pull controls both the Moon’s orbit and the tides on our planet.
How many Earths can fit in the moon?
As an example of how much smaller the Moon is than Earth, consider that about 49 Moons might fit inside of Earth. Put another way, the Moon is a comparatively small astronomical body in comparison, with a volume of around 2% that of Earth. The diameter of the Earth is approximately 12,742 kilometers (7,918 miles), while the Moon is approximately 3,474 kilometers (2,159 miles). The Moon is Earth’s natural satellite and circles the planet due in part to its enormous size difference, which also lessens Earth’s gravitational pull.
How big is moon?
With a diameter of around 3,474 kilometers (2,159 miles), the Moon is the sole natural satellite of Earth and is about one-sixth the size of our planet. The Moon is a barren, airless world with a surface size of around 37.9 million square kilometers (14.6 million square miles), distinguished for its cratered, bleak terrain. Its small size and absence of atmosphere cause drastic temperature changes between day and night on the moon. The Moon, albeit small in comparison to Earth, has been an important part of our planet’s history, inspiring science, exploration, and even cultural symbolism across the course of human history.
How many moons fit between Earth and moon?
Depending on the parameters used to calculate these “moons'” sizes, the intriguing topic of how many moons can fit between Earth and the moon is raised. Depending on the size of the items selected, the number of objects that would fill the space between the Earth and the Moon would differ significantly. For example, we could fit one moon in that space if we were using items of a diameter similar to the Moon’s, or about 3,474 kilometers. On the other hand, a large number of smaller objects, such as asteroids or regular artificial satellites, could fit in that area. The precise amount would depend on the particular dimensions of the objects selected, but it would probably be a sizable amount.
Does Earth have 1 or 2 moons?
There is only one natural moon on Earth, which people just call “the Moon.” There is just one enormous, natural satellite that has consistently been visible in our night sky, despite the fact that numerous manmade satellites and space debris orbit the planet. This moon has been important to human history, culture, and scientific research because of its unique phases and gravitational pull. Although some asteroids and momentarily captured objects have been mistakenly referred to as second “moons,” they lack the qualities and durability of Earth’s main naturally occurring satellite.
