Can you replace a sun with a burning moon?

In our solar system light and heat are, of course, provided by the sun. I was wondering if a comparable effect might be had by positing a burning moon instead? So rather than a true star, you'd have a much smaller but relatively close satellite with a surface that's just engulfed in flames.

Please assume that we can play with the orbit, size, and heat until reaching the desired effect, and that the following problems are not within the scope of the question, and can be dealt with artificially.

• The time scale. (It doesn't have to support evolution, just be habitable.)
• The presence of enough fuel. (In terms of the science, I'm more asking about the likely effects of the moon once it's already burning rather than whether it could plausibly ignite. I'm equally happy with answers that assume a fuel source not found in our universe, and answers that are hard science all the way through.)

Assuming all that, if this moon did occur, could it temporarily sustain a habitable world? And even tweaked to the ideal conditions, would the effects be in some ways necessarily and noticeably different from the perspective of the surface?

This question is inspired by ancient cosmologies in which the sun orbited the earth. I'm basically trying to suss out whether a science-friendly version of that is possible.

Thanks for your time.

(The question has been edited to clarify my aim in response to some of the answers and comments below; thanks for your responses and help.)

posted over 7 years ago

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