<p>One significant biological event that requires a specific "type" of moonlight is the reproduction of corals in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Great Barrier Reef</a>, in Australia.</p>

<p>'<a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/10/071019-coral-spawning.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">One week each year in spring, after a full moon</a>, millions of corals release eggs and sperm in what Bill Leggat, a co-author of the new study, called "a slow symphony."'</p>

<p>'<a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071019093814.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">An ancient light-sensitive gene</a> has been isolated that appears to act as a trigger for the annual mass spawning of corals across a third of a million square kilometres of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, shortly after a full moon.'</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-31T14:41:36.287Z
This is interesting, although I'm really wondering about very large effects. Do you have any information about the difference in energy or visibility on the earth that the moon provides?
Josh Withee
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-31T09:26:01.353Z
2018-07-31T09:26:01.353Z
Fred
<p>We know of course that light from the sun is a fundamental component to making life possible on earth because of the energy it provides. Does the light that is reflected off of the moon make a significant impact on the earth as well? </p>

<p>For example - at night, would it be at lot colder on earth without moonlight? And would it basically be pitch-dark on earth without moonlight? Or do stars and other astronomical entities provide a significant amount of light compared to the moon? </p>

<earth-rotation><moon><light>
Is moonlight a significant condition for making life possible on earth?
Josh Withee
# Is moonlight a significant condition for making life possible on earth?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-07-30)

We know of course that light from the sun is a fundamental component to making life possible on earth because of the energy it provides. Does the light that is reflected off of the moon make a significant impact on the earth as well?

For example - at night, would it be at lot colder on earth without moonlight? And would it basically be pitch-dark on earth without moonlight? Or do stars and other astronomical entities provide a significant amount of light compared to the moon?

**Tags:** earth-rotation, moon, light


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-07-31. Score: 2

One significant biological event that requires a specific "type" of moonlight is the reproduction of corals in [Great Barrier Reef](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef), in Australia.

'[One week each year in spring, after a full moon](https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/10/071019-coral-spawning.html), millions of corals release eggs and sperm in what Bill Leggat, a co-author of the new study, called "a slow symphony."'

'[An ancient light-sensitive gene](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071019093814.htm) has been isolated that appears to act as a trigger for the annual mass spawning of corals across a third of a million square kilometres of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, shortly after a full moon.'

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This is interesting, although I'm really wondering about very large effects. Do you have any information about the difference in energy or visibility on the earth that the moon provides?  

---

