The Expanding Universe: Dark Matter Causing Moon to Drift Apart From Earth

Abstract-In the late 1960s, through Lunar Laser Ranging Experiments, it was discovered that the Moon is drifting apart from the Earth at a constant rate. This new discovery has created a buzz among the scientists, with widely speculated reasons such as tidal forces, and Earth’s rotation rate. This rate of the Moon drifting apart has been relatively stable over years, with an average rate of 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches) per year. This research paper explores the factors contributing to the Moon’s gradual drift away from Earth and introduces an additional potential reason for this phenomenon; where dark energy and matter comes into the picture and plays a role by expanding the distance between the 2 celestial objects. This paper will discuss in detail about the effect of dark energy on local systems like the solar system. To conclude, this paper will analyze the gradual drift of the Earth and the Moon because of dark energy and matter, discuss about its distribution in the universe, and predict its future impact on local systems and bodies in detail.