Since time immemorial, the prominent position of the Moon in the night sky and the regular phase affects many human cultures: language calendar, art, mythology as well. Earth's natural satellite was not suddenly there, it was formed from a colossal collision that occurred 4.5 billion years ago. 'Great Impact'.
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| Traces of Theia have been found on the Moon but its composition is very similar to that of the Earth? (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1kyVOnp) |
Later, the researchers found evidence of another world that hit the Earth billions of years - that formed the Moon - based on analysis of rocks which brought by Apollo astronauts:
Planet Theia.
The scientists findings corroborate the theory that the Moon was created through a huge explosion. The study published in the Science, a scientific journal. Mentioned that Moon was formed out of tremendous collisions between Theia and Earth has been widely accepted.
Theia (mother of the Moon Goddess - Selene - in Greek mythology) is estimated to have been destroyed. Debris and dust mingled with the property of the planet Earth and eventually form the Moon.
It is the most plausible explanation and fit with computer simulations. The problem, the main weakness in the theory is that no one has ever found evidence of Theia at the Moon rock samples. The preceding analysis suggests, Moon rocks derived entirely from the Earth, while the computer analysis shows, there must be traces of Theia at the Moon.
Now rock analysis indicates the material of natural planetary satellite of Earth have an 'alien' origin. Alien. According to lead researcher, Dr. Daniel Herwartz of the University of Goettingen, previously there was no one else who found definitive proof of the theory of the Great Impact.
"Even to the point where some people argued that the collision was never there," he said as quoted by the BBC on Friday, June 6, 2014. "But now have found little difference between the Earth and the Moon. Findings confirm a major collision theory."
Some people say, the difference can be explained by Teia debris that is absorbed by the Earth after the Moon formed.
Professor Alex Halliday from Oxford University, is the one that said he was surprised that the difference between Theia material found in Moon rocks and Earth are very small. "What you are looking for is a much bigger difference, because what is left of the solar system as based on measuring a meteorite," he said.
Dr. Herwartz measure the difference in what is called the isotopic composition of oxygen contained in the rocks in the Earth and the Moon.
A number of studies of meteorites from Mars and the outer solar system shows that the ratio is very different - like a fingerprint so. Thus, Professor Alex Halliday, and a number of other professors shocked by the fact that the Earth and Theia finished prints look almost identical. Of the same composition.
One possibility is, Theia formed very close to the Earth and has a similar composition. If that's the case, raising the possibility that the assumption of any planet in the Solar System today have a very different fingerprints, need to be revisited. Similarly, according to Professor Halliday.
"This raises the question of how well meteorites from Mars and the asteroid belt beyond the solar system into the inner Solar System representative? Unfortunately, we do not have samples of Mercury and Venus," he said.
"They may be similar to Earth. If that happens then all the arguments over the similarity of the Earth and the Moon, collapsed."
Meanwhile, Dr Mahesh Anand of The Open University, said research conducted by Dr. Daniel Herwartz interesting. However, he cautioned, the data is only from 3 samples of Moon rocks.
"We have to be careful about the degree of representation of the 3 samples representing the entire Moon. Thus, further analysis of the various rocks of Moon required for further confirmation," he said.
Not only Great Impact. A number of other theories are offered to explain why the composition of the Earth and the Moon are very similar. One of these spins faster before the collision. Or, Theia is larger than that assumed by the model.
Another controversial alternative theory is proposed Professor Rob de Meijer of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. He said the Earth's crust and mantle dislodged and blown into space by the accumulation of nuclear material 2,900 miles below the surface. The debris that is clumped to form the Moon.
He said the new findings show that there are differences in the composition of the Earth and the Moon - not going to change his views.
"The difference is very small," said Professor Rob de Meijer. "We do not know exactly how the Moon formed. What we need is a manned mission to the Moon to search for the stone deeper below the surface, which has not been tainted by the impact of meteorites and the solar wind." *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BBC]
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