Moon drifts away from Earth

Yes, the Moon, Earth's natural satellite, is gradually moving away from our planet. This process is happening very slowly, at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches) per year. This movement is caused by the gravitational interaction between the Earth and the Moon, specifically due to tidal forces.

As the Moon orbits the Earth, its gravitational pull creates tides in the Earth's oceans. These tides, in turn, create a slight bulge in the Earth's oceans that is slightly ahead of the Moon's position in its orbit. This bulge exerts a gravitational pull on the Moon, gradually accelerating it in its orbit and causing it to move away from the Earth.

As a result of this process, the Earth's rotation is also gradually slowing down, lengthening our days over long periods of time. The process has been ongoing since the Moon formed around 4.5 billion years ago, and it will continue into the future. However, the rate of this movement is very slow, so its effects are not noticeable on human timescales.