A real mystery
So no mystery at all around the Moon? Well, if you ask me, there is one thing that I find extremely puzzling. It's probably a coincidence, but it's definitely an interesting one, and it has to do with one of the most spectacular astronomical events visible to naked eye. The Sun and the Moon appear the same size in Earth’s sky. In fact, while the Sun’s diameter is about 400 times larger than the Moon, the Sun is also about 400 times farther away. There is no special reason why this should be so, and this coincidence would mostly go unnoticed if it wasn't for the fact that sometimes the Moon ends up aligned between the Earth and the Sun. When this happens, the result is a total Solar eclipse with its beautiful coronal displays, which is only possible because of the very similar projected size of the two astronomical bodies. What are the odds? Nobody really knows, but it definitely seems surprising.
What we know for sure is that the same tidal interactions that move the oceans on Earth, are causing the Moon to spiral away from our planet at a pace of about 1 inch per year. So that about 50 million years from now the Moon will appear too small to cover the Sun, and no total solar eclipses will be possible anymore. You better go and watch one asap: Next total solar eclipse in the USA? August 21, 2017! And if you miss that, there will be another one in 2024.