https://xkcd.com/2908

Alt text:

Astronomers are a little unsure of the applicability of this index, but NASA’s Planetary Protection Officer is all in favor.

2 points

Earth and moon, rejoined again at last!

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9 points

I mean this does have a practical application, I think. The relative masses of moons to planets does imply the moons ability to sweep junk out of the way before it hits the planet.

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3 points
*

This is not based on mass but on volume. For example the moon is only 1% of the earth’s mass yet considerably less dense therefore it makes a thicker layer.

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1 point

*imply

Sure. By even the density/mechanical properites of armor will affect its usefulness. Beyond simple thickness.

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8 points

That’s why we live here; the moon protects us!

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4 points

Mercury in shambles

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7 points

Finally, Earth is Number One again (well Number Two if you count Pluto, that is)

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6 points

Pluto-charon shouldn’t count since it is more akin to a binary planetary system than a planet-moon system. Charon and Pluto are so close in size that the system has a barycenter outside of Pluto. This means instead of Charon orbiting a point inside Pluto, Charon and Pluto orbit a point about 800 km above Pluto’s surface.

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14 points

That was why we told pluto it couldn’t be in the club anymore.

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