Moving the Earth

Moving the Earth is a theoretical astroengineering concept that involves physically shifting Earth farther away from the Sun to protect the planet's biosphere from rising temperatures. These expected temperature increases derive from long-term impacts of the greenhouse effect combined with the Sun's nuclear fusion process and steadily increasing luminosity. The approach has been acknowledged by some planetary scientists, including some at Cornell University.[1][2][3]

Various mechanisms have been proposed to accomplish the move.[4] The most plausible method involves redirecting asteroids or comets roughly about 100km wide via gravity assists around the Earth's orbit and towards Jupiter or Saturn and back. The aim of this redirection would be to gradually move the Earth away from the Sun, keeping it within a continuously habitable zone. This scenario has many practical drawbacks: besides the fact that it spans timescales far longer than human history, it would also put life on Earth at risk as the repeated encounters could cause the Earth to potentially lose its Moon, severely disrupting the Earth's climate and rotation. Additionally, the encounters would require said asteroids or comets to pass close to Earth; a slight miscalculation could cause an impact between the asteroid or comet and Earth, potentially ending most life on the planet, except bacteria.