The Mysterious Absence of the Moon in Planet of the Apes: An Unexplained Phenomenon Explained

In the 1968 film Planet of the Apes, one of the iconic scenes involves astronaut Thomas Dodge pointing out that there is a strange luminosity in the sky, yet no moon. This phenomenon has puzzled fans for decades. Let's delve into the possible explanations for this mystery.

Explaining the Absence of the Moon

While the moon itself did not appear in the sky during this scene, there was a satisfying explanation provided in the comic book series that was canceled. According to the comic book, the moon was destroyed by a warhead similar to the Alpha-Omega Bomb seen in Beneath the Planet of the Apes. The ruined remains of the moon formed a ring of rocks around Earth, much like Saturn's rings. These rocks reflected sunlight at night, accounting for Dodge's comment about the strange luminosity.

Despite the comic book's creative solution, this explanation was never included in the movie due to the comic being released decades after the film's release. The reason for the absence of the moon mentioned in the 1968 film was never directly addressed in the theatrical version, leaving fans to speculate further.

Understanding the Astronauts' Observations

During the trek through the Forbidden Zone, the astronauts observed cloud cover at night, which led to the comment about the lack of a moon. This cloud cover explains why they could not see the familiar constellations. However, we can analyze the specific details of Dodge's observation to uncover a potential scientific explanation.

Based on NASA's calculations, if the astronauts landed on Earth in the year 3978, they would have been about 3 days shy of a Full Moon conjunction. This means that the moon should have been visible in the sky, if not for the cloud cover obstructing their view. However, the presence of a Full Moon would have contradicted the premise of the astronauts being on an "alien" planet. Therefore, to maintain the plausibility of their discovery, the moon was destroyed by an explosive event, leaving only debris unable to be seen in the sky.

A Fan-Fiction Explanation: The Darkmoon Phenomenon

In my fan-fic project, I propose a different but intriguing explanation for the absence of the moon. According to my scenario, the moon was destroyed by a series of Doomsday Bombs detonated beneath its surface. These blasts created micro-mass black holes that consumed the moon's mass, leaving only an invisible residue that still affects Earth's tides.

During the astronauts' trek, an unusual phenomenon occurs: the skies light up, and thunder is heard, even though there is no rain. This is due to the Sun-Moon-Earth alignment causing the Moon's gravitational lensing to 'slingshot' solar radiation and the solar wind, creating a lightning and thunder effect. This phenomenon is interpreted as a 'sign' from the simian God, signaling the start of the Hunting Season.

The destruction of the moon and its subsequent transformation into an invisible body (Darkmoon) explains why it cannot be seen in the sky, even during the autumn period when the Full Moon might typically be expected. The moon's mass remains, affecting the tides, but only the gravitational effects are observable.

Conclusion

The absence of the moon in Planet of the Apes was likely due to the destruction of the moon by a catastrophic event. Whether through the comic's explanation of a moon ring or my fan-fic's theory of micro-mass black holes, the phenomenon serves to create a more believable narrative for the astronauts' journey.

The mystery of the moon's disappearance in Planet of the Apes is a testament to the film's enduring legacy and the fascination that fans have with uncovering hidden secrets within the storylines.