вЂњExceptionally unlikely.вЂќД«ut for an object to knock the Moon off its orbit, it would have to be вЂњbig enough to hit the Moon at the right speed at the right angle,вЂќ says Byrne. In fact, scientists think that a massive planetary object, known as Theia, collided with the Earth 4 billion years ago, resulting in the formation of the Moon. Such planetary collisions were more common in the early days of our solar system.

ItвЂ™s possible some large object like an asteroid could hit the Moon with such force that it knocks it out of its orbit. вЂњOne option would be to hit the Moon and you could basically alter the trajectory of the moon such that it intersectsвЂќ with Earth, says Byne. This idea is actually the most plausible part of the movie trailer, but just because something is technically possible, doesnвЂ™t mean it could actually happen. MoonfallвЂ™s synopsis reads: вЂњA mysterious force knocks the Moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurtling on a collision course with life as we know it.' John Bradley, Patrick Wilson, and Halle Berry in Moonfall. Could the Moon naturally collide with Earth? The fact that the moonвЂ™s speed in orbit is what matters most can help us understand how the Moon could unnaturally leave its orbit, causing a collision with Earth, but first. вЂњOrbit is a function of speed, not altitude,вЂќ Byrne says. Speed, not distance or altitude, is the most crucial factor in maintaining the MoonвЂ™s 27-day orbit around the Earth. ThatвЂ™s probably why we see raging sea waves in the Moonfall trailer, as the MoonвЂ™s fast approach has altered the oceanвЂ™s tides.) (The MoonвЂ™s orbit is also vital to the movement of tides on Earth. вЂњ Orbit is a function of speed, not altitude.вЂќ вЂњThe Moon is in orbit in the first place because it's moving fast enough that it doesn't collide on the ground with Earth but not so fast that it's able to break the gravitational effect of Earth,вЂќ Byrne says. But before we can answer how that would happen, we have to understand how the Moon actually orbits the Earth in the first place. In order for the scenario in the Moonfall trailer to occur - a collision with Earth - the Moon would somehow have to leave its current orbit.

Man on the moon movie truth