Our natural satellite, our most beautiful muse and inspiration for countless poems, tales and legends, our beloved Moon is slowly shrinking.
Scientists have found tell-tale marks on the surface of the moon, which are evidence of a shrinkage that has been going on during the past billion years. This shrinkage apparently is normal and is evidence that the moon is still geologically active and hopefully probably not going anywhere.
My only question, gentlemen, is: Where did all that cheese go? Are Lunatics mining it? Or the government stole it for a big-ass fondue party? Hit the break to answer this and other questions

Astronomers have declared that the moon is shrinking after spotting wrinkles all over the lunar surface. The tell-tale contraction marks were discovered by US scientists who examined thousands of photographs of the moon’s surface taken by a Nasa orbiter.

Some of the wrinkles are several miles long and rise tens of metres above the dusty terrain. Researchers believe they arise from the moon decreasing in size by around 200 metres across its diameter. The moon’s mean diameter is generally calculated to be 2,159 miles.

The prospect of a shrinking moon is not new to planetary experts. When the moon formed it had a hot core, much like that of the Earth, which caused it first to expand and then contract as it cooled down.

The latest findings suggest the moon could still be cooling, a process that causes the surface to compress and form the wrinkle-like features, known as lobate scarps.

Contract as it cooled down? So basically the Moon is like a giant-ass scrotum? Makes sense. Outer space is cold. I say, we are lucky that it isn’t shaking, the moon landing would have been impossible if that was the case! Can you imagine Neil Armstrong trying to walk like that? Actually it would be quite funny.

“Not only could they be indicating recent contraction of the moon, they may be indicating that the moon is still contracting,” said Watters. “Until now, we really had no evidence of cooling and the contraction of the moon that would go along with it. This isn’t anything to worry about. The moon may be shrinking, but not by much. It’s not going anywhere.”

Well that’s a relief, I couldn’t imagine the night sky without a moon! It just wouldn’t be the same. Half of my UFO photo collection wouldn’t exist. I’m always like “LOOK A HUGE UFO!! oh, nevermind, it’s just the Moon ”

Visit guardian.co.uk to learn more about the shrinkage: The moon is shrinking, say scientists. And while you read, I will be outside, admiring the beauty of the moon with my vixen. That’s the name of the telescope by the way; Vixen A70lf Refractor Telescope, in case your dirty mind is again playing tricks on ya.

Hypnotizing Moon photo courtesy commons.wikimedia.org.