Associating the Moon and the tide

Abstract The Moon is important to us. It has played a major role in the evolution of our planet, most obviously by causing a reduction of the rotation rate of the Earth through tidal friction. It is even possible that the Moon and hence the tides could have provided one mechanism for the origin of life on Earth through the repeated flooding and drying out under the Sun of primitive organisms in inter-tidal pools [1], [2]. In addition, the Moon has been an important factor in the religions and cultures of many societies.