Where is the center of mass for the Earth-Moon system?

Subject: Where is the center of mass for the Earth-Moon system?

Date: Tue Sep 14 22:07:41 1999
Posted by Jason Lynch
Grade level: 10-12 School: Medical Lake High School / Eastern Washington University
City: Medical Lake State/Province: WA Country: USA
Area of science: Astronomy
ID: 937361261.As

Message:


Where is the center of mass for the Earth-Moon system?  I have heard that 
the Earth and moon are more like a double planet system that rotates 
around their center of mass.  

Also, if the earth's rotation is slowing (as indicated by everything I've 
read), just how long would it take before only one side of the Earth every 
sees sunlight?  My own calculations indicate this would be somewhere along 
the lines of 3-5 billion years.  I thought I had something else to ask, 
but I can't remember it for now, so until then...

Jason

Re: Where is the center of mass for the Earth-Moon system?

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