I have been experimenting with the settings on my camera and for the first time was able to capture the moon in detail. It hung low in the late afternoon sky, a sea blue all around. You can see sunlight highlighting the craters. I love space. The whole idea of planets and moons hanging effortlessly in a vacuum of nothing fills me with awe.
That we have a moon which guards our planet boggles my mind. Without the moon, tides would become nearly non-existent and sea levels would rise. The ocean's currents are the way the it oxygenates itself, sea life would starve for air without the moon's influence. Currents such as the Gulf Stream bring life-giving warmth and nutrients all across the world. The moon also affects vital currents which circulate cold nutrient-filled water around the Atlantic and into the Indian Ocean.
Without the moon, our earth would become a gigantic snowball. The "pole" of Earth's magnetism would change--people living in the mid-latitudes would see the Aurora Borealis. The steadiness of the Earth's rotation would be effected. The moon actually keeps the earth from wobbling, rocking and rolling.
The perfect balance created by the moon's presence seems miraculous to me. The moon is an important part of our survival here on earth. I am grateful to our Creator for setting it into place.
