10 Jun 14
Originally posted by sonhouseOn a slight note of caution, what it seems to show is that the near side of the moon was molten after the far side had solidified, and that the moon was much closer to earth in the distant past. That means the Earth and the Moon formed near each other, but isn't really conclusive proof of the Theia hypothesis.
http://phys.org/news/2014-06-year-dark-side-moon-mystery.html
More evidence the moon was created by collision with Mars sized planet hitting Earth very early on in the birth of our solar system.
There is more evidence reported on the BBC website [1], based on analysis of rock samples, which seems to show the same thing.
There is also a theory that the Earth had two moons for a while, which was also reported on the BBC website [2]. It is based on the same Theia collision, the reasoning of the authors is that if one moon could form, why not two? The seas on the moon are a consequence of a second collision between the smaller moon and the one we see now.
[1] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27688511
[2] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14391929
10 Jun 14
Originally posted by DeepThoughtThey said the explanation for the near side more molten was the crust on the near side is thinner so meteor strikes on the far side would find a deeper crust and be more protected against volcanic activity, lava flowing out a thousand miles wide as in the near side, the far side has way less.
On a slight note of caution, what it seems to show is that the near side of the moon was molten after the far side had solidified, and that the moon was much closer to earth in the distant past. That means the Earth and the Moon formed near each other, but isn't really conclusive proof of the Theia hypothesis.
There is more evidence reported on the B ...[text shortened]... uk/news/science-environment-27688511
[2] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14391929
10 Jun 14
Originally posted by sonhouseYes, I'm fairly convinced by the theory of how the maria formed. I don't know if this counts as evidence of a collisional origin for the moon though. Entertainingly the second article I quoted was saying that the two moon collision was slow at only 2.4km/s [1] - hardly any speed at all!
They said the explanation for the near side more molten was the crust on the near side is thinner so meteor strikes on the far side would find a deeper crust and be more protected against volcanic activity, lava flowing out a thousand miles wide as in the near side, the far side has way less.
[1] This is slow compared with the speed of sound in rock, apparently.
10 Jun 14
1 edit
Originally posted by sonhouseAll this really suggests is that the moon cooled faster on one side than the other. It doesn't on its own tell us anything about the moons origin. It doesn't even rule out multi-moon collision as suggested by DeepThought or even a large asteroid collision heating one side.
They said the explanation for the near side more molten was the crust on the near side is thinner so meteor strikes on the far side would find a deeper crust and be more protected against volcanic activity, lava flowing out a thousand miles wide as in the near side, the far side has way less.
There are other possible explanations such as differences in material on the two sides causing differential cooling or differences in mantle strength.
The fact that one face always faces the earth is due to it not being a perfectly uniform sphere of uniform density.
10 Jun 14
Originally posted by DeepThoughtWhen one planet meets another, I don't think it would matter much if it was going 2.4 METERS per second, there would be a BIG splash! If that was the case though, I imagine there would not have been a moon manufactured from the collision.
Yes, I'm fairly convinced by the theory of how the maria formed. I don't know if this counts as evidence of a collisional origin for the moon though. Entertainingly the second article I quoted was saying that the two moon collision was slow at only 2.4km/s [1] - hardly any speed at all!
[1] This is slow compared with the speed of sound in rock, apparently.
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10 Jun 14
Originally posted by twhiteheadNo, even a perfectly uniform sphere of uniform density will tidally lock.
All this really suggests is that the moon cooled faster on one side than the other. It doesn't on its own tell us anything about the moons origin. It doesn't even rule out multi-moon collision as suggested by DeepThought or even a large asteroid collision heating one side.
There are other possible explanations such as differences in material on the two s ...[text shortened]... ace always faces the earth is due to it not being a perfectly uniform sphere of uniform density.
What locked the moon was tidal stressing of the moon and not greater
attraction of one side as compared with the other.
10 Jun 14
Originally posted by googlefudgeThe energy of stretching and compressing it, both planets actually, like taffy.
No, even a perfectly uniform sphere of uniform density will tidally lock.
What locked the moon was tidal stressing of the moon and not greater
attraction of one side as compared with the other.
11 Jun 14
Originally posted by sonhouseThe first thought when I saw this thread was - No, I don't believe in this. The moon was rotating from the very beginning so when the interesting stuff happened there was no far side.
"Lunar mystery solved, near side Vs far side:"
http://phys.org/news/2014-06-year-dark-side-moon-mystery.html
When I read the article I realized that I was wrong. When the dust settled to form the moon, then why would it rotate? There was, from the beginning a far side, and that side had different properties than the near side.
We always learn new things, and that is what's fun with science!
11 Jun 14
Originally posted by googlefudgeInteresting. I didn't realize that. So I guess it means that the moon is currently not quite spherical but stretched in the Earth - Moon direction.
No, even a perfectly uniform sphere of uniform density will tidally lock.
What locked the moon was tidal stressing of the moon and not greater
attraction of one side as compared with the other.
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11 Jun 14
Originally posted by twhiteheadAbsolutely.
Interesting. I didn't realize that. So I guess it means that the moon is currently not quite spherical but stretched in the Earth - Moon direction.
It's not just water [and air] that is moved by tidal forces, the rock moves too.
That effect is what is keeping numerous small moons of Jupiter geologically active
long after they should have solidified.
The tidal stretching heats the rocks keeping it warm.
The amount the moons shape is distorted is very small however.
11 Jun 14
Originally posted by twhiteheadI agree with googlefudge, but I'll check that, the article indicated that the near side was kept molten radiatively by the Earth's surface still being hot.
Could that deferentially heat the near side more than the far side explaining the phenomena in this thread?