Nuking Moon

Tangoman wrote:

> A nuclear explosion is localized. We don't have planet buster bombs
> yet. I think you're not fully grasping the scale of the moon.

To bust the Moon would presumably require every chunk of it attaining lunar
escape velocity?

Then I'd say 12+ trillion megatons at least. ;-)

Explanation...

Energy = G^3 * SQRT ( M^5 * rho * 4 * pi / 3 )

Energy is for escape velocity for body of mass M and density rho. G = grav
constant. Assumption of 4.2e15 J per megaton, SI units throughout, and a
spherical body.

Given that the world nuclear arsenal is maybe five thousand megatons
(http://www.thebulletin.org/research/qanda/worldarsenals.html) the Moon is
quite safe. ;-)

Regards,

Andy G