"Earth Without Moon Apocalypse?" Topic

I taped and watched NatGeo's "Naked Science: Earth Without The Moon" and found this interesting.

The Moon is moving away from Earth about 1.5 inches each year, gradually causing greater and greater disruptions to Earth.

Without the Moon's stabilizing influence, at some point Earth's wobble will get way out of control, affecting seasons, migration patterns, even vulcanism. Earth's tilt could oscillate drastically from 0 to 90 degrees. And, the further away the Moon is, the slower Earth's rotation becomes.

When it moves 25,000 away from current position, it will slingshot away from Earth forever.

QUESTION:

Now, would you call that an apocalyptic event worthy of gaming scenarios?

Dan

Well, I know that in 1997 a runaway planet hurtles between Earth and the Moon, unleashing cosmic destruction. Man's civilization is cast in ruins. Two thousand years later, Earth is reborn. A strange, new world rises from the old. A world of savagry, super-science and sorcery…

On the plus side, maybe there will be more episodes of Space 1999 made….

DarthfozzyWig,

You've read my mind.

link

Dan

Moonbase Alpha would get a slick new reboot, a la Battlestar….can't be bad….:-)

Just think about the Eagles in super new shiny CG-o-vision…..

Sadly probably no werewolves anymore.

Actually a 'reboot' of SPACE: 2099 is sorta in the works!

space2099.tv

See what YOU think of it!

And now, it's more 'believeable'/continuity etc…and it does explain what happens/happened to Earth when the moon 'left' orbit…

Two big changes…(that really make it better overall…

1. the timeframe…2099 is more 'believeable' as to the technology etc…

2. the moon isn't 'blown' out of orbit..(would have shattered/direction of force from blast etc…)…the blast, because of the 'unique' properties of the EMP/different mutating/fusion elements mixing from the wastes…created a 'wormhole'…which the moon gets SUCKED through!!! (which explains how it goes so fast/so far vs the giant fusion rocket effect they originally sorta 'fuzzy scienced' away…)

But check out how they've 'corrected' the series/chronology and 'updated' the special effects!!!! and even some 'bloopers'…

It's amazing what so called 'fans' with computer/CGI stuff can DO!

I wrote in, in support of it…and it's great game fodder, especially since I have several of the eagles, from the moonbase model scale to the larger plastic/Product Enterprise scale and even modified some 'clixies' into 28mm 'Alphans'….

Totally, Slishular!
Sgt DWW-btod

The sun's going to die, too. Then there's the heat death of the universe to worry about…
-Kle.

Now, would you call that an apocalyptic event worthy of gaming scenarios?

To be honest, no. I don't think it'll happen in one go; suddenly the moon is at the magic 25,000 (what? miles) away, and PING! off it goes; it'll be more gradual than that. I don't think there'll be a point in time where you can cay "that was it".

I seem to remember the same show, or another like it, stating that the Sun would destroy the Earth and Moon before the Moon would be able to escape Earth's gravitational pull.

Assuming the 1.5 inch per year figure is correct and unchanging, I make it to be about 1,056,000,000 years before that magic 25,000 mile displacement is reached. If whatever intelligences have descended from humanity by then aren't capable of dealing with something as trivial as repositioning sub-stellar masses, I weep for the future.

OTOH, mixing Thundarr and Space 1999 has potential. Perhaps Alpha and the larger half of Luna go for their trip a little early, while the smaller chunk fragments again and remains overhead to cast moonlight upon a world of savagery, super-science, and sorcery. :)

Seems like it would be a short game:

GM: Thanks for coming to play Moonless Devastation. The rules are based on 5150. Now as without a moon the earth is a lifeless rock, there are no armies, factions, clans or critters. We'll call it a draw. Enjoy the rest of the convention. But if you really want I'll let you three play algae and you three can play viruses, if you like.

LOL @ crispy

I thought this was going to be gaming "Three Moons Over Milford" and I was about to start looking for an Elizabeth McGovern figurine ….

> Sadly probably no werewolves anymore.

Haven't been werewolves since Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin brought home the first moon rocks. RETURN THE ROCKS NOW!!! AWROOO!

I'm more concerned what effect a moonless sky will have on menstural cycles. Gotterdamerung, for certain.

There is no potential for gaming. If the earth tilted at 90 degrees we would all fall off of it.

I'd be fine since I live on the 45th parallel. a 90 degree tilt would just put me on a different 45th parallel.

"I'm more concerned what effect a moonless sky will have on menstural cycles. Gotterdamerung, for certain."

"There is no potential for gaming. If the earth tilted at 90 degrees we would all fall off of it."

Guys!

I just got my stitches out yesterday, and here you are trying to make me split open again.

Dan

@ khurasanminiatures

Do you have a yurt in your backyard?

And I thought of "Three Moons" as soon as I saw the title header.

There is no potential for gaming. If the earth tilted at 90 degrees we would all fall off of it.

No potential for gaming? Don't tell James Ernest that.

link

Admittedly, I'm not sure what you'd be impacting on at the end of the game. Maybe the invisible tortoise that holds the planet up?

LOL.

Ok, ok. I guess I need to watch how many pain killers I take then.

Dan

Actually its 1994 when the runaway planet is/was due.

Did I miss that? My imbibing was greater between '94 and '97 but I can't believe I missed that!

Sorry Shagnasty. It was pretty awesome though.

Wow, Shagnasty!

My memories of 1993-2001 are nearly blank for me. So I must have missed that 1994 Thundarr cataclysm too.

Dan