Randall Munroe: Is It Possible To Change The Moon's Colour?

TL;DR

Exploring the impact of laser pointers on the moon, from simple beams to powerful lasers potentially altering its appearance.

Transcript

I like to answer these sort of silly or stupid questions that people write in with so I wanted to start by talking about one of those when I started answering questions one of the questions someone sent in was they wanted to know if if every person on earth aimed a laser pointer at the moon at the same time would it change color and this is a very ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤑 Laser pointers, even high-powered ones, wouldn't visibly change the moon's color due to distance.
• ✊ Theoretical calculations explored various laser power levels' impact on illuminating the moon.
• 📣 Mega-watt lasers could vaporize the lunar surface, introducing propulsion concepts like laser ablation.
• 💗 National Ignition Facility's 500 terawatt laser pulses could push the moon out of Earth's orbit.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can laser pointers change the color of the moon?

Laser pointers, even at high power levels, wouldn't be bright enough to alter the moon's color visibly due to the distance and light dispersion.

Q: What was the most powerful laser considered to affect the moon?

A 500 terawatt laser pulse from the National Ignition Facility could potentially vaporize the moon's surface and push it out of Earth's orbit.

Q: Why are laser ablation and propulsion significant?

Laser ablation could serve as an efficient propulsion method for spacecraft by vaporizing lunar surfaces, creating plasma, and providing thrust.

Q: How does the absence of the moon impact Earth?

Without the moon's stabilizing influence, Earth's axial tilt could become chaotic, causing extreme climate changes and potentially catastrophic outcomes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Analysis on using laser pointers to see if they can change the color of the moon.

• Details the theoretical calculations and outcomes of various laser power levels on illuminating the moon.

• Delving into the extreme scenario of using mega-watt lasers and their potential effect on the lunar surface.