xkcd

8825 readers

108 users here now

A community for a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language.

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

koraro@lemmy.world

291

xkcd #2908: Moon Armor Index (imgs.xkcd.com)

submitted 8 months ago by randomaccount43543@lemmy.world to c/xkcd@lemmy.world

48 comments fedilink hide all child comments

https://xkcd.com/2908

Alt text:

Astronomers are a little unsure of the applicability of this index, but NASA's Planetary Protection Officer is all in favor.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] neptune@dmv.social 9 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I mean this does have a practical application, I think. The relative masses of moons to planets does imply the moons ability to sweep junk out of the way before it hits the planet.

[–] teft@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

This is not based on mass but on volume. For example the moon is only 1% of the earth's mass yet considerably less dense therefore it makes a thicker layer.

[–] neptune@dmv.social 1 points 7 months ago

*imply

Sure. By even the density/mechanical properites of armor will affect its usefulness. Beyond simple thickness.