Scientists may have found the planet that made the Moon
Researchers say temperature-dependent strength changed the Moon-forming impact, with simulations showing an intact Moon can emerge in 84% of one scenario, the authors said.
- New simulations published September 1 in The Astrophysical Journal Letters suggest the Moon could have formed in just 5 hours following the Earth-Theia collision, enabled by incorporating material strength into planetary models.
- The Giant Impact Hypothesis posits that a Mars-sized planet named Theia collided with Earth roughly 4.5 billion years ago, yet prior simulations ignored material strength, assuming it would have negligible effects during such an energetic event.
- Researchers led by Dr. Adeene Denton of the Southwest Research Institute found that hotter, weaker material produces an intact Moon, while colder, stronger bodies generate a classic protolunar debris disk, fundamentally changing established formation scenarios.
- These mechanical responses reconcile the nearly identical isotopic signatures of Earth and the Moon, suggesting Theia originated in the inner Solar System as a neighbor to Earth before the two bodies collided.
- Incorporating material strength into planetary models improves understanding of other ancient collisions, such as those shaping Jupiter's moon Ganymede or Saturn's moon Titan, while aiding the search for elusive exomoons.
26 Articles
26 Articles
Scientists Make Stunning Moon Discovery That Echoes the Genesis Creation Account - Charisma Magazine Online
A new computer simulation suggests the moon may have formed within hours, offering striking support for the biblical account of creation recorded in Genesis. Scientists modeled the ancient collision between Earth and Theia, a Mars-sized planet believed to have struck the young Earth about 4.5 billion years ago. Unlike previous studies, the simulation considered the […]
Moon May Have Formed in Five Hours, Scientists Say, as Believers Claim the Discovery Supports the Bible
A new study suggests the Moon could have formed in just five hours after a giant impact, challenging traditional models and sparking online comparisons with biblical accounts
Scientists found out that the moon was formed only five hours after the Earth clashed with Thea.
The moon may have formed in just 5 hours, new simulations suggest
Novel simulations, which reassessed the ancient collision between Earth and the protoplanet Theia, suggest that the moon could have emerged from the aftermath of this impact much more quickly than scientists previously thought.
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