These are the things that keep me up at night.

The Moon is gradually moving away from the Earth at a rate of a few cm a year. This has the additional effect of causing the Earth to rotate on its axis more slowly. Eventually the Earth will find itself tidally locked with the Moon. Both bodies will show only one face to each other.

So here's the question, in several parts. 1) What will be the distance from the Earth to the Moon when they become tidally locked together? 2) How long will this take? 3) Since there is also a tide from the Sun (although smaller than the tide from the Moon) I presume that the Earth will become tidally locked to the Sun. How long will this take? and 4)will the Earth's orbital radius increase and if so by how much?

I'm working on the math on my own, but I thought I'd see what you guys can come up with.

Thanks

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Jeff Schwarz
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Argh!! They booby-trapped their sun!!****--Invader ZIM