  A classical model of lunar recession is reviewed and updated, where input
parameters are taken or inferred from earlier astronomical computation of
insolation quantities on Earth back to 0.25 Gyr. Free parameters are (i) the
transition age, where mean lunar recession is suddenly lowered, and (ii) the
merging age, where Earth-Moon distance (EMD), drops to zero. Predicted mean EMD
and length of day (LOD) slightly overstimate their counterparts from the above
mentioned astronomical computation. Predicted LOD, where the effect of
atmospheric tides and nontidal processes is considered and supposed to be time
independent, slightly understimates a linear interpolation from paleontological
data related to Phanerozoic, inferred in earlier investigations. If
short-period ($\Delta t\approx10^{-3}$ Gyr) EMD fluctuations ($\Delta
a\approx\mp0.5R_\oplus$), resulting from the above mentioned astronomical
computation back to 0.25 Gyr, occur along the whole evolution of Earth-Moon
system (EMS), then the predicted mean EMD is consistent with values inferred
from three well studied paleontological data sets: Elatina-Reynella (ER), Big
Cottonwood (BC), Weeli Wolli (WW), for a suitable choice of input parameters.
The same holds for LOD where, in addition, computed values are consistent with
a linear interpolation from paleontological data related to Proterozoic,
inferred in earlier investigations. The effect of atmospheric tides and
nontidal processes is also discussed. In conclusion, the current model can be
considered as a useful zeroth-order approximation to the evaluation of lunar
recession and LOD. More accurate paleontological data, expecially in connection
with error evaluation, would be desirable in view of improved results and
further constraints involving both Astronomy and Paleontology.
