The past and present Earth-Moon system: the speed of light stays steady as tides evolve

Abstract

Tides induce a semimajor axis rate of +38.08 ± 0.19 mm/yr, corresponding to an acceleration of the Moon’s orbital mean longitude of −25.82 ± 0.13 "/cent2, as determined by the analysis of 43 yr of Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) data. The LLR result is consistent with analyses made with different data spans, different analysis techniques, analysis of optical observations, and independent knowledge of tides. Plate motions change ocean shapes, and geological evidence and model calculations indicate lower rates of tidal evolution for extended past intervals. Earth rotation has long-term slowing due to tidal dissipation, but it also experiences variations for times up to about 105 yr due to changes in the moment of inertia. An analysis of LLR data also tests for any rate of change in either the speed of light c or apparent mean distance. The result is (−2.8 ± 3.4)×10–12 /yr for either scale rate or –(dc/dt)/c, or equivalently −1.0 ± 1.3 mm/yr for apparent distance rate. The lunar range does not reveal any change in the speed of light.

On the secular recession of the Earth-Moon system as an azimuthal gravitational phenomenon

“…Iorio 2011aIorio , 2014bIorio , 2015Riofrio 2012;Ziefle 2013;Acedo 2014). The Lunar eccentricity e moon is known to increase at a rate such that [ė moon = (5.00 ± 2.00) × 10 −12 yr −1 ] (Williams et al 2014). As already said, this increase in the eccentricity is assumed by some researchers (Iorio 2011a(Iorio , 2014b(Iorio , 2015Riofrio 2012;Ziefle 2013;Acedo 2014) to be divorced from the Lunar drift.…”

“…Recent analysis of Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) data records panning 43 yr (cf. Williams et al 2014) revealed-at a 3σ level of statistical significance (cf. Iorio 2011b), an increase in the mean Earth-Moon distance of about 38.08 ± 0.04 mm/yr (Williams et al 2004(Williams et al , 2014Williams and Boggs 2009).…”

“…Williams et al 2014) revealed-at a 3σ level of statistical significance (cf. Iorio 2011b), an increase in the mean Earth-Moon distance of about 38.08 ± 0.04 mm/yr (Williams et al 2004(Williams et al , 2014Williams and Boggs 2009). Present-day models of dissipative phenomena occurring in the interior of both the Earth and the Moon are not able to explain it this (cf.…”

“…Acedo 2013b) and this measurement was conducted by independent group of American and Russian astronomers (Standish and Kurtz 2005;Krasinsky and Brumberg 2004;Pitjeva and Pitjev 2012) respectively. Even the Moon has been found by Williams et al (2004Williams et al ( , 2014; Williams and Boggs (2009) to be receding from the Earth (cf. Iorio 2011aIorio , 2011b at a rate of about 38 mm/yr.…”

Four Poission-Laplace Theory of Gravitation (I)

“…In addition to the Newtonian gravitational component, we generate four more gravitational components. These new components have the potential to solve the current existing gravitational anomalies such as the Pioneer Anomaly, the Moon-Earth [14]- [16] and Sun-(Moon-Earth) [17] [18] recession, Anomalous Rotation Curves of Spirial Galaxies (i.e., the so-called Darkmatter Hypothesis) and as well on the origins of the Tituis-Bode Law (whose origins remain a mystery) and the existence of ring systems around celestial bodies such as the Planet Saturn.…”