The leading theory is that after the earth formed a mars sized object collided with the earth bonding the two and ejecting material into the orbit of the new larger earth, this material coalesced to form the moon.
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∙ 8y agoThe current scientific theory suggests that the moon formed shortly after the Earth, around 4.5 billion years ago, from a giant impact between Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia. This collision resulted in the debris that eventually came together to form the moon.
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∙ 14y agoYes, according to the prevailing theory. The idea is that the early Earth was struck a glancing blow by another protoplanet about the size of Mars. Much of the Earth's crust was peeled away and put into orbit about the now-enlarged Earth. Over a surprisingly short time span, the orbiting material coalesced to form the Moon.
This model has the nice feature of explaining the much lower density of the Moon. Before the big collision, the iron, nickel, and other heavy elements in the early Earth sank to the center (giving the Earth its current nickel-iron core). The collision created the Moon from the crustal material of Earth, which was relatively depleted in those heavy elements because they'd already sunk into the Earth.
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∙ 15y agoOne theory about the formation of the moon is that a big body moving through space hit the earth and tore some of it off, then went into orbit about our planet. If you think about it, there aren't many logical ways to explain how a body as large as our moon could be captured by earth. The moon probably could not have formed at the same time as earth because there is too much of it too close. It is most unlikely to have appeared in a local accretion disk. Lastly, the few moon rocks that were brought back suggest that what is there is like what is here. If that's the case, what is there now must have been here at one time.
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∙ 14y agoCurrent measurements show that the earth is slowing and the moon is spiraling out to higher and slower orbit. Therefore, in the past, the days and months were shorter and the moon was closer. If we extrapolate back about 4.1 to 4.5 billion years ago the moon was ludicrously close and the earth was dizzy fast. But what are the projected numbers?
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∙ 13y agoA mars-sized object hit the earth and the piece that broke off became the moon
Earth and the moon together form a binary system in space known as the Earth-Moon system. The moon orbits the Earth as its natural satellite, exerting gravitational effects on our planet such as tides. The interaction between Earth and the moon has influenced our planet's geology, climate, and even life forms.
Eclipses form predictable patterns based on the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Solar eclipses occur during a new moon when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth. Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon.
The vapor form, the liquid form, and the solid form are.
It is not true that the Moon was a chunk of Earth. The leading theory is that the Moon was formed from debris created when a Mars-sized object collided with Earth early in its history. This collision released material that eventually coalesced to form the Moon.
The moon is to the earth, as the earth is to the sun.
Earth and the moon together form a binary system in space known as the Earth-Moon system. The moon orbits the Earth as its natural satellite, exerting gravitational effects on our planet such as tides. The interaction between Earth and the moon has influenced our planet's geology, climate, and even life forms.
Reflected sunlight, for sure, travels from the Earth to the Moon. Reflected sunlight from the Moon also travels to Earth. That is why we can see the Moon.
No, it is the gravitational attraction of the moon.
The phases of the moon are the result of the ever-changing positions of the Earth, moon, and sun relative to one another. When the moon and the sun are on opposite sides of the earth (whereby the sun, earth, and moon form a straight line), a full moon occurs. When the moon and sun are on the same side of the earth (whereby the sun,moon, and earth form a straight line), a new moon occurs.
Sun-Moon-Earth form a right triangle in this case.
Apparently - in the form of ice
See related questions.
Eclipses form predictable patterns based on the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Solar eclipses occur during a new moon when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth. Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, causing Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon.
The moon is 384,400 kilometers away.
No, they did not form at the same time because the Moon formed after the Earth. The most likely theory is that shortly after the Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, a giant object (about the size of Mars) collided with the Earth. Large amounts of debris were thrown into space which began orbiting earth and eventually came together to form the moon.
No, the moon is not a constellation. The moon is a natural satellite that orbits the Earth, while a constellation is a group of stars that form a pattern in the sky as seen from Earth.
The vapor form, the liquid form, and the solid form are.