Answer – Yes, the Moon does stabilize planet Earth.
Explanation:
The Earth rotates around an axis that is not precisely perpendicular to its orbit around the Sun. Rather, the Earth’s axis is slightly tilted, by about 23.5 degrees.
The Moon has a stabilizing effect on this axial tilt. Its presence and the gravitational field that exists between it and the Earth stabilizes the latter’s axial tilt, maintaining it such that changes to it over the course of time are gradual and minor. If the Moon had not been present, it is believed that the degree of the axis could have swung to and fro drastically, changing frequently by as much as 85 degrees.
Such tremendous change in the axial tilt would have made life on Earth impossible. The atmosphere and the resultant climate would not be stable enough to support life.
The stabilizing effect of the Moon is attributed to its size. Compared to the moons of other planets, the Earth’s moon is quite large in relation to the planet. This allows it to exert enough influence on the Earth as well as to establish rhythms on the planet’s surface such as that of the tides.
