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Ancient Moon Mirrors Still Test Gravity With Millimeter Precision

1 min read
Source: Space Daily
Ancient Moon Mirrors Still Test Gravity With Millimeter Precision
Photo: Space Daily
TL;DR

Apollo-era lunar retroreflectors remain functional, allowing Earth-based lasers to measure the Earth–Moon distance to millimeter precision. The Moon is slowly drifting away at about 3.8 cm/year due to tidal friction, enabling stringent tests of general relativity, with next-generation reflectors and DLLR aiming to improve measurements further.

Topics:sciencespace#apollo-reflectors#general-relativity#lunar-laser-ranging#moon-recession#retroreflectors#space
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The Apollo astronauts left mirrors on the Moon that scientists still bounce lasers off 57 years later, and the round-trip measurement is precise enough to track the Moon drifting away from Earth at the speed your fingernails grow  Space Daily

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