How was the moon formed? New theories challenge traditional explanations

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  Francisco Maria
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The question that has interested humanity since time immemorial is: How was the moon formed? This question has led to the exploration of different theories Throughout history.

The origin of the moon

The moon has been a source of magic since time immemorial. And mystery to humanity. Its presence in the night sky has inspired poets, artists and scientists throughout history. But what is the origin of our natural satellite?

Out Several theories about how the moon was formedBut the most accepted by the scientific community is the Great Impact Theory. According to this hypothesis, about 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth collided with a Mars-sized body, known as Theia. This impact would have generated a massive amount of debris that would have come together to form the Moon.

One of the main arguments in favor of this theory is that The composition of the Moon is very similar to the composition of the Earth's crustWhich indicates that both bodies are made of the same material. In addition, computer simulations have shown that an impact of this size would have been capable of generating the Moon in its current orbit.

There is other evidence in favor of the high impact theory The presence of water on the moon's surface. It is believed that this water comes from the impact of comets and asteroids that struck the moon throughout its history. This water is an invaluable resource for future space missions and the potential colonization of our natural moon.

As part of the space race between NASA and Elon Musk to land on the moon in the coming years, It may be surprising that we still don't have definitive answers about the origin of the Moon.

Although we seem to know everything about the moon, the reality is just that Important questions remainEspecially regarding their initial training.

Traditional theory

As we have seen, the Big Impact Theory, which was proposed in the 1970s, suggests that about 4.5 billion years ago, Earth experienced a massive collision with a protoplanet. This catastrophic collision gave rise to our beloved moon.

The explanation behind this theory is captivating. According to this hypothesis, A Mars-sized object, called Theia, slammed into Earth hard At the dawn of the solar system. The impact was so massive that it launched debris into space, which eventually coalesced to form what we now know as the Moon.

The Big Impact Theory has gained momentum since its initial proposal and has become… One of the most accepted explanations for the origin of the Moon. This model explains not only the formation of our natural satellite, but also other properties of the solar system.

A new perspective on major influence theory

Proposed by scientists from the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology A new hypothesis challenges traditional theory. They suggest that the collision between Earth and Theia may have occurred at a time when the Earth's surface was covered in magma.

This debris explosion could have created the moon. this That would explain why the Earth and Moon share a similar geochemical composition.

The phenomenon that led to the formation of the moon is known as coalescence Fusion of debris released into space as a result of the initial explosion.

The new model suggests that the disk of debris resulting from the collision eventually froze. This process gave rise to a series of smaller objects It gradually accumulated through accretion to form the Moon That we know today.

Fission theory

Fission theory states this The Moon formed from material that was emitted from the Earth when it began to rotate faster In his early days. According to this idea, part of the Earth's mass has been broken off and remains trapped in Earth's orbit.

However, this theory faces physical and logical obstacles. Experts point out this It is highly unlikely that an object with the mass of the Moon would have broken apart Earth due to its rapid rotation.

In addition, fission theory faces the challenge of explaining how the Moon was able to remain in its current orbit. According to physics, The Moon was likely to tilt toward the Sun or return to Earth Instead of remaining in its stable orbit.

Accumulation hypothesis

According to the accumulation theory, The Moon and Earth formed from the same cosmic dust cloud About 4.6 billion years ago. In this scenario, Earth, as the larger twin, attracted more material during the initial phase of its formation, resulting in its larger size, molten core, and greater gravity. As a result, the Moon was pulled into Earth's orbit.

Despite the isotopic similarities between the Moon and Earth, there are significant differences in their composition. For example, the Moon contains much lower amounts of sodium and iron than Earth. This contradiction Raises questions about accretion theory as an explanation for the origin of the Moon.

Recommended readings

Planet Earth and the Moon

Earth-Moon-Sun system