[orionblamblam]

> does this mean that it is slowly creeping away

Yes, it is, at a rate of centimeters per year, IIRC. This has been repeatedly measured using lasers and the reflectors left by the Apollo astronauts.

What is happening is that tidal forces are in play. The total angular momentum of the Earth-Moon system is remaining essentially constant, but the system, via tidal drag, is exchanging the Earth's rotation for the moons revolution. Basically, the day AND month are getting longer. As memory serves, in some billions of years both will be approximately twice what they are now. And then the sun will go FOOM, and the issue becomes moot.

[Lawgvr1955]

The current rate of recession is approximately 4 cm per year. Plus the sun is slowly expanding and the earth's rotation is slowing, causing the day to be longer. Remember the old adage, nothing last forever.

[jpsb]

"a rate of centimeters per year"

let's call that a foot every ten years or a mile every five thousand years. So 5 billion years would would be 100,000 5,000 years or 100,000 miles. That would put the moon 140,000 away 5 billion years ago. Hmmm, assuming constant drift then in another 5 billion years the moon is 340,000 miles away not the 480,000 miles you state. hmmmm, well maybe the drift is more like 2 miles every 5,000 years then the moon would only be 40,000 miles distant 5 billion years ago and the tital effect would be awesome, mind blowing to think of the moon orbiting that close! What a mess that would create!