<p>Technically speaking, only the Moon would crash into the Sun.  That being said, it's certainty one of many possibilities in the far distant future.</p>

<p>About 7.6 billion years from now, the Sun will have ballooned to a large enough size to engulf much of the inner solar system.  One of the consequences of growing into a small red giant will be mass lost due to a rapid sheding of material through a stronger solar wind.  This mass loss will allow all of the planets to be pulled on by the Sun less, and they can achieve a higher orbit.  In Earth's case, it could be as much as 1.2 AU from the center of the Sun.  Also, there will eventually be a large increase in the solar wind density where Earth orbits the Sun.  This solar wind and chromosphere will create drag on Earth while in motion around the Sun, and will rob the planet of its angular momentum (orbital velocity).  The Earth will slowly begin to transition into a smaller orbit, and some sources think that this may lead to the Earth falling into the Sun.</p>

<p>In this scenario, Earth-Moon system is gravitationally stable, and the Earth has sufficient gravity to hold onto the Moon during this time - Earth will pull the Moon down with it.</p>

<p>What is not known to me is if the drag from the solar wind and chromospher will cause the Moon to lose enough angular momentum to spiral inwards, ultimately merging with the Earth before the Earth is engulfed by the Sun.  This would be a spectacular sight, as the moon would first be ripped apart by the tidal interaction with Earth (inside the Roche limit, or about 11,500 miles from the center of the Earth).  Our Moon would resemble a string of moonlets, each eventually falling to Earth.  Either way, the result is the same - the Moon will only exist within the Sun.</p>

<p>Sources:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/earth-will-die-a-hot-horrible-death-when-the-sun-expands-and-swallows-us-and-now-we-know-what-that-looks-like-28965223/?no-ist" rel="nofollow">http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/earth-will-die-a-hot-horrible-death-when-the-sun-expands-and-swallows-us-and-now-we-know-what-that-looks-like-28965223/?no-ist</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.space.com/3373-earth-moon-destined-disintegrate.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.space.com/3373-earth-moon-destined-disintegrate.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-05T22:26:35.613Z
Perhaps, but I don't think this is  done deal yet and neither of the news items you refer to quite make the argument you claim. Instead they say that the Sun *may* engulf the Earth when it in the *AGB* phase. The wind you refer to is a double edged sword. The mass loss from the Sun is significant - it will lose about half its mass. This leads to a *widening* of the Earth's orbit and it (and the Moon) may escape the conflagration.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-05T22:33:50.067Z
Good points, @RobJeffries.  I'll reword to reflect the uncertainties.
EastOfJupiter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-05T18:44:12.407Z
2016-05-05T22:37:44.330Z
2016-05-05T22:37:44.330Z
EastOfJupiter
<p>No. </p>

<p>The moon orbits the Earth at less than 405,000 km. The Earth orbits the sun at more than 147,100,000km. The orbits are stable over billions of years.  </p>

<p>The moon never comes less than 146,700,000km from the sun</p>

<p>It is possible for the moon to pass in front of the sun, that is called a solar eclipse.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-05T18:47:48.830Z
2016-05-05T18:47:48.830Z
James K
<p>Is it possible for the Sun and the Moon to crash into each other?</p>

<p>If yes, under what conditions? If no, why?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-05T18:26:56.997Z
Related: http://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/131/is-the-moon-moving-further-away-from-earth-and-closer-to-the-sun-why
called2voyage
<the-sun><the-moon>
Is it possible for the Sun and the Moon to crash into each other?
SpiderRico
# Is it possible for the Sun and the Moon to crash into each other?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-05)

Is it possible for the Sun and the Moon to crash into each other?

If yes, under what conditions? If no, why?

**Tags:** the-sun, the-moon

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Related: http://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/131/is-the-moon-moving-further-away-from-earth-and-closer-to-the-sun-why  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-05-05. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Technically speaking, only the Moon would crash into the Sun. That being said, it's certainty one of many possibilities in the far distant future.

About 7.6 billion years from now, the Sun will have ballooned to a large enough size to engulf much of the inner solar system. One of the consequences of growing into a small red giant will be mass lost due to a rapid sheding of material through a stronger solar wind. This mass loss will allow all of the planets to be pulled on by the Sun less, and they can achieve a higher orbit. In Earth's case, it could be as much as 1.2 AU from the center of the Sun. Also, there will eventually be a large increase in the solar wind density where Earth orbits the Sun. This solar wind and chromosphere will create drag on Earth while in motion around the Sun, and will rob the planet of its angular momentum (orbital velocity). The Earth will slowly begin to transition into a smaller orbit, and some sources think that this may lead to the Earth falling into the Sun.

In this scenario, Earth-Moon system is gravitationally stable, and the Earth has sufficient gravity to hold onto the Moon during this time - Earth will pull the Moon down with it.

What is not known to me is if the drag from the solar wind and chromospher will cause the Moon to lose enough angular momentum to spiral inwards, ultimately merging with the Earth before the Earth is engulfed by the Sun. This would be a spectacular sight, as the moon would first be ripped apart by the tidal interaction with Earth (inside the Roche limit, or about 11,500 miles from the center of the Earth). Our Moon would resemble a string of moonlets, each eventually falling to Earth. Either way, the result is the same - the Moon will only exist within the Sun.

Sources:

<http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/earth-will-die-a-hot-horrible-death-when-the-sun-expands-and-swallows-us-and-now-we-know-what-that-looks-like-28965223/?no-ist>

<http://www.space.com/3373-earth-moon-destined-disintegrate.html>

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Perhaps, but I don't think this is  done deal yet and neither of the news items you refer to quite make the argument you claim. Instead they say that the Sun *may* engulf the Earth when it in the *AGB* phase. The wind you refer to is a double edged sword. The mass loss from the Sun is significant - it will lose about half its mass. This leads to a *widening* of the Earth's orbit and it (and the Moon) may escape the conflagration.  
> **username_2**: Good points, @RobJeffries.  I'll reword to reflect the uncertainties.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2016-05-05. Score: 2

No.

The moon orbits the Earth at less than 405,000 km. The Earth orbits the sun at more than 147,100,000km. The orbits are stable over billions of years.

The moon never comes less than 146,700,000km from the sun

It is possible for the moon to pass in front of the sun, that is called a solar eclipse.


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