Geochemical implications of the formation of the moon by a single giant impact
Abstract
The origin of the moon by a single massive impact of a body slightly larger than Mars with the earth can explain the angular momentum, orbital characteristics and unique nature of the earth-moon system. The density and chemical differences between the earth and the moon are accounted for by deriving the moon from the mantle of the impactor. A cosmochemically plausible impactor can be formed in the region of the inner Solar System, lending support to the impact hypothesis.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- March 1989
- DOI:
- 10.1038/338029a0
- Bibcode:
- 1989Natur.338...29N
- Keywords:
-
- Earth-Moon System;
- Geochemistry;
- Hypervelocity Impact;
- Lunar Composition;
- Lunar Evolution;
- Chondrites;
- Earth Mantle;
- Iron Oxides;
- Siderites;
- Solar System;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration; Moon;
- MOON;
- GEOCHEMISTRY;
- FORMATION;
- ORIGIN;
- IMPACTS;
- EARTH-MOON SYSTEM;
- ANGULAR MOMENTUM;
- ORBITAL ELEMENTS;
- DENSITY;
- CHEMISTRY;
- MANTLE;
- HYPOTHESES;
- DYNAMICS;
- DIAGRAMS;
- LITHOPHILES;
- VOLATILES;
- SIDEROPHILES;
- THEORETICAL STUDIES;
- COLLISIONS;
- DEPLETION;
- ENRICHMENT;
- CORE;
- MODELS;
- MELTING;
- ACCRETION;
- SIZE;
- MASS;
- COMPOSITION;
- VELOCITY;
- DIFFERENTIATION;
- METAL;
- SILICATE;
- EARTH-MOON SYSTEM;
- GEOCHEMISTRY;
- HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT;
- LUNAR COMPOSITION;
- LUNAR EVOLUTION;
- CHONDRITES;
- EARTH MANTLE;
- IRON OXIDES;
- SIDERITES;
- SOLAR SYSTEM;
- MOON;
- GEOCHEMISTRY;
- FORMATION;
- ORIGIN;
- IMPACTS;
- EARTH-MOON SYSTEM;
- ANGULAR MOMENTUM;
- ORBITAL ELEMENTS;
- DENSITY;
- CHEMISTRY;
- MANTLE;
- HYPOTHESES;
- DYNAMICS;
- DIAGRAMS;
- LITHOPHILES;
- VOLATILES;
- SIDEROPHILES;
- THEORETICAL STUDIES;
- COLLISIONS;
- DEPLETION;
- ENRICHMENT;
- CORE;
- MODELS;
- MELTING;
- ACCRETION;
- SIZE;
- MASS;
- COMPOSITION;
- VELOCITY;
- DIFFERENTIATION;
- METAL;
- SILICATE