Tag

Theia

All articles tagged with #theia

space1 month ago•111 min saved

Moon could form in just five hours after Earth-Theia collision, study suggests

A new simulation-based study suggests the Moon could have formed in as little as five hours after the giant impact between early Earth and a Mars-sized protoplanet called Theia, depending on extreme temperatures and the material strength of both bodies. If correct, this rapid formation would rewrite timelines for lunar genesis and highlight how rock strength affects debris accretion in planetary collisions, with implications for exomoon searches and understanding other ancient impacts.

via Live Science|

#earth #giant-impact-hypothesis #moon-formation

space1 month ago•136 min saved

Moon Born in a 5-Hour Flash After Giant Impact, New Study Suggests

New simulations considering the internal temperatures and material strengths of early Earth and Theia suggest the Moon could form within about five hours after the Theia–Earth giant impact if Theia was relatively warm; cooler, slower-forming scenarios are also possible. This refines the leading giant-impact theory, indicating the Moon largely originated from Theia’s mantle with a bit from Earth, and implies the Moon’s volatile content and isotopic differences may reflect the thermal state at impact. The findings have implications for exomoon searches and the Moon’s formation timeline.

via space.com|

#giant-impact #isotopes #moon-formation

space2 months ago•14 min saved

Mars-Sized Crash Forged Earth's Unusually Large Moon

A Mars-sized world named Theia struck the young Earth, vaporizing rock and throwing debris into orbit that quickly coalesced into Earth's Moon, explaining why the Moon is so large relative to Earth. Apollo-rock chemistry shows the Moon is Earth-like, ruling out capture or co-formation theories. Simulations indicate the debris formed a Moon within hours, and tidal forces have since raised the length of day and pushed the Moon outward at about 3.8 cm/year, altering future solar eclipses over hundreds of millions of years.

via Space Daily|

#giant-impact #lunar-formation #moon

science3 months ago•11 min saved

Earth's Moon: a cataclysmic birth that steadied tides and climate

Scientists favor the giant-impact model: about 4.5 billion years ago a Mars-sized body named Theia struck early Earth, flinging molten debris that coalesced into the Moon. Lunar rocks show Earth-like isotopes, challenging simple versions of the collision and prompting models where both bodies mixed thoroughly. The Moon’s gravity drives tides and helps stabilize Earth's axial tilt, aiding a climate conducive to life, though some simulations allow tilt stability without the Moon. Artemis missions aim to bring back new lunar samples to help settle remaining questions.

via Space Daily|

#artemis #giant-impact #lunar-isotopes

space5 months ago•8 min saved

Moon's Origin Remains a Puzzle as Scientists Revisit Theia Scenario

Scientists still don’t fully know how the Moon formed after a giant impact with Theia about 4.51 billion years ago; estimates of Theia’s size range from Mercury-sized to roughly half Earth’s mass, and while newer hydrodynamic models that favor a larger impact can explain why Moon rocks resemble Earth's chemically, Apollo samples like the Genesis Rock complicate the picture. Researchers also study lunar magma ocean conditions in the lab to probe mineral formation, but the exact origin remains unresolved.

via ScienceAlert|

#apollo-rocks #earth-moon-chemistry #genesis-rock

science9 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Discover Massive Unexplained Structures Beneath Africa

Scientists have discovered two massive structures beneath Africa and the Pacific, known as LLSVPs, which may be remnants of the ancient planet Theia that collided with Earth billions of years ago, potentially influencing Earth's geological activity and surface features.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#earths-interior #llsvps #planetary-remnants

science10 months ago•3 min saved

New Evidence Suggests a Nearby Planet Was the Moon's Origin

New research suggests that a sibling planet, Theia, once orbited close to Earth and may have caused the giant impact that formed the moon, revealing that Earth and Theia were likely local siblings formed in the inner solar system.

via Live Science|

#earth #moon #planetary-impact

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Cosmic Collisions Shaped Earth's Habitability and Life

Scientists suggest that a collision between proto-Earth and a Mars-sized body called Theia not only formed Earth but also delivered essential volatile elements like water, creating conditions conducive to life. Recent research indicates Earth was initially dry and hot, with the impact providing the chemical richness necessary for life's emergence, although water alone did not trigger life.

via WIRED|

#collision #earth #life-origins

science1 year ago•6 min saved

New Theory Challenges Popular Moon Origin Belief

A new theory proposed by researchers from Penn State University challenges the long-held belief that the Moon was formed from a collision between Earth and a protoplanet named Theia. Instead, the study suggests the Moon may have been captured by Earth through a process called binary-exchange capture, where it was part of a pair of rocky bodies orbiting each other. This theory could explain the Moon's tilted orbit and its chemical similarities to Earth, offering an alternative to the traditional collision theory.

via Daily Mail|

#binary-exchange-capture #lunar-origin #moon

science2 years ago•3 min saved

Moon-Forming Impact May Have Sparked Earth's Continental Drift

A study suggests that the collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object named Theia 4.5 billion years ago, which formed the moon, may have also initiated plate tectonics. Researchers propose that the impact generated the necessary heat to start tectonic activity, supported by computer simulations and geological evidence from ancient zircons in Australia. While the theory is compelling, it remains one of several hypotheses about the origin of plate tectonics.

via The Seattle Times|

#earth-formation #geophysics #moon

science2 years ago•2 min saved

"Alien Planet's Remains Found Buried at Earth's Core"

The remains of a planet called Theia, which collided with Earth billions of years ago, are believed to be buried near the Earth's core, forming Large Low-Velocity Provinces (LLVPs) in the mantle. These LLVPs are denser than the surrounding material and are thought to have resulted from the collision, which also created the Moon. Recent studies have used seismic wave measurements and simulations to confirm that the LLVPs are remnants of Theia, and researchers are now investigating their impact on Earth's early evolution.

via BroBible|

#earth #mantle #planetary-collision

science2 years ago•3 min saved

Uncovering Evidence of a Collision with Another Planet Inside Earth

Scientists have discovered two large, dense masses in the Earth's mantle, one under Africa and the other under the South Pacific Ocean, which they believe could be remnants of a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object called Theia that occurred over 4.46 billion years ago. Computer simulations suggest that most of Theia was absorbed into Earth, forming the two masses, while the remaining pieces formed the moon. If confirmed, this would provide evidence of the moon-forming crash and shed light on the evolution of Earth and other rocky planets.

via VOA Learning English|

#earths-mantle #geophysics #moon-formation

science2 years ago•3 min saved

Traces of Moon's Formation Found Within Earth

New research suggests that remnants of the Mars-sized body called Theia, which collided with Earth to form the Moon, are still identifiable as two large lumps within the Earth's mantle. These lumps make up about 8% of the mantle's volume and correspond to the existence of two large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs) below the Pacific and Africa. The study argues that the heat generated by the collision was not enough to melt the entire mantle, allowing the Theia remnants to remain distinct. The discovery could have implications for plate tectonics and the formation of the Atlantic Ocean.

via The Conversation|

#collision #earth #mantle

science2 years ago•5 min saved

Ancient Planet Fragments Discovered in Earth's Core

Scientists have discovered that remnants of the ancient planet Theia may be present in Earth's deep mantle, shedding light on the origin of the Moon and Earth's early history. Through computational fluid dynamics simulations, researchers found that the giant impact between Theia and Earth resulted in mantle stratification, with the upper mantle forming a magma ocean and the lower mantle retaining the composition of Earth (Gaia). This stratification may have persisted to the present day, explaining the presence of Large Low Velocity Provinces (LLVPs) in the mantle. The study challenges previous theories of Moon formation and provides insights into Earth's geological evolution and the formation of the inner solar system.

via SciTechDaily|

#deep-earth #earths-mantle #moon-formation

science2 years ago•3 min saved

Unearthing the Ancient Planet That Shaped Earth's Destiny

Scientists believe that remnants of an ancient Mars-sized planet called Theia, which collided with Earth 4.5 billion years ago and gave rise to the formation of the moon, may be buried deep within Earth's mantle close to the core. Computer simulations support the theory that two continent-sized masses of material located under Africa and the Pacific Ocean are remnants of Theia. These masses, known as large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs), have a different composition and higher density than the surrounding mantle. The simulations suggest that Theia's matter, which partially melted Earth's mantle during the collision, settled into these LLVPs over time. Further research will explore how this alien material may have influenced Earth's evolution and the formation of its first continents.

via IGN|

#ancient-planet #computer-simulations #earths-mantle