Biological Evolution has been ongoing through the last 4/5 of the cosmic and geological history of Earth (Tellus). Researchers believe that our Solar System was formed about  4 500 000 000 years ago. The nine planets were shaped during a comparatively short period. Material collected onto an arbitrary number of cores. Besides the nine planets, our solar system still contains large amounts of matter in form of asteroids and comets. Most comets reside in almost circular orbits near the outermost planets Neptune and Pluto. The boundaries of our Solar System are not perfectly distinct. Halley's comet returns every 79th year. Is it part of our solar system or is it not ?

Obviously the Sun is crucial for Life on Earth, and has been from the start. Lately, scientists have found more and more indications that also the Moon has had and has a crucial influence on the abilities of Earth to maintain Life in ongoing evolution. The cosmic bang that created the Moon also influenced Earth so drastically that some geologists mention our planet as Earth Mark 2 as apposed to the former Earth Mark 1. We know little about Earth Mark 1, but it probably had more water than Mark 2. The environment on land was harsh with sand storms and polar ice caps that could move around during a geologically short period like 1000 years. Earth Mark 1 did not have the invaluable gyro stabilizer, our Moon. 

Moon for Life

Although the moon is sterile, it has indirectly contributed to the evolution of Life on Earth. Without often making the connection, we are reminded each day of the most important milestone in the history of Earth and Life on Earth. That milestone is the event that created the Moon. The reminder is all kinds of plants and animals that we encounter and enjoy, and people that we meet and relate to.

A very large object hit Early Earth, and enormous amounts of material splashed up from what was much worse than a crater. There was an inferno of lava, rocks, dust and gases. Some material went straight out into Space, some was caught by Mars, some material fell back on Earth, and a large amount became our Moon. The changes caused by the impact were so significant that the new Earth/Moon system has been called Earth Mark 2. Let us suppose this took place 3 800 000 000 years ago. 

Thus, the formation of the Moon dramatically influenced the conditions for Early Life on Earth Mark 2. This is true independently whether the Principle of Life, DNA, existed before the bang, was introduced by the vagabond, or emerged in the "big boiler" that Earth became after the hit. 

The planet-sized vagabond that caused the bang has been called Orpheus. A number of parameters had to be absolutely right, in order to create a permanent satellite so big in relation to its host planet. Chance chose those parameters.

During the early existence of the Moon, it circulated much closer to Earth, at less than 1/10 of today's distance of 384 000 km (=60 earth radii). Initially, the distance was perhaps 5 earth radii. This caused an enormous tidal wave in the seas of the Earth and a corresponding wave in the crust of the Earth, with frequent volcanic activity under water and on the sterile land surface. This perpetual boiling and cooling, with rain and thunder, went on for some million years. Proteins were formed in many places. In some drop of water emerged the symbiosis between DNA and the proteins. DNA is by far the greatest IT innovation of history, and a beautiful geometrical construct as well. Controlled by "the forceful will of DNA" the proteins of a biological organism temporarily borrow entropy-absence enough for a self-controlled process like you or me. 

Right now, during some million years, the Moon is virtually the same size as the Sun. During each rotation, the Moon pumps some energy from  the spin of the Earth through the link of gravitation. The distance of the Moon increases by about 30 mm per year, while the spin of the Earth slows down. (Part of the spin energy of the Earth becomes heat in the tidal wave.)

If the Moon had initially "been given" a lower orbit, then it would have fallen back on to earth. (This is certainly true for lots of material that temporarily orbited lower than today's artificial satellites.) Had the Moon initially been given a higher orbit, then the "big boil"  would have been less violent. Evolution would at least have been delayed by a billion years or so...

If we look upon the cosmic and geological processes that have lead up to Modern Earth and Modern Mankind, it is all about a series of incredibly unlikely events and conditions. This is true for the whole Solar System with its cosmofacts like Earth and her Moon. It is also true for Earth with her biofacts including Mankind, and for Man with her artefacts and her culture.

 Note: A simple paradox with cosmofacts, biofacts and artefacts -
 granite and water; tree and grass; pipe and block of stone 

Modified: 2001-09-18