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The Moon is thought to have formed in a collision between early Earth and Theia, which scientists believe may be an ancient planet in our solar system about the size of Mars.
In an effort to figure out how the Moon might have formed from a giant collision, scientists at Durham University in the UK ran supercomputer simulations on the DiRAC high-performance computing facility to send a Mars-sized planet called Theia. crashing into the first Earth.
Their simulations produced an orbiting body that could potentially evolve into a moon-like object.
Although, as scientists have reported, it is not definitive proof of the Moon’s origin, it could be a promising stage in understanding lunar formation.
The simulations track material from early Earth and Theia for four days after their collision. Next, the scientists ran other simulations after spinning Theia like a billiard ball.
The simulated collision with the primeval Earth produced different results depending on the size and direction of Theia’s initial rotation. At one extreme, the collision joined the two objects, while at the other, a grazing impact occurred.
In a scandalous moment, the collision brought the two objects together while a grazing impact occurred.
Basically, the simulation in which no spin was added to Theia produced a self-gravitating cluster of material with a mass of about 80% of the Moon. At the same time, another Moon-like object was created when a small amount of rotation was added.
The resulting mound, which settles into an orbit around the Earth after impact, would grow and sweep away the disc of debris surrounding our planet.
The simulated group also has a small iron core, similar to that of the Moon, with an outer layer of materials from early Earth and Theia.
Lead author Sergio Ruiz-Bonilla, Ph.D. researcher at Durham University’s Institute for Computational Cosmology, said: “Adding different amounts of spin to Theia in simulations, or having no spin at all, gives you a whole range of different results for what might have happened when the early Earth was hit by a huge object all those billions of years ago.”
“It is exciting that some of our simulations have produced this cluster of material in orbit relatively not much smaller than the Moon, with an additional disk of material around the Earth after impact that would help the cluster grow in mass over time.”
“I wouldn’t say this is the Moon, but it’s certainly an exciting place to keep looking.”
Co-author, Dr Vincent Eke, of Durham University’s Institute of Computational Cosmology, said: “We get different results depending on whether or not we introduce the spin to Theia before it crashes into primordial Earth.”
“It is incredibly fascinating that when no or very little spin is added to Theia that the impact with early Earth leaves behind a trail of debris, which in some cases includes a body large enough to deserve to be called a proto-moon.” .
“There may be several possible collisions that have yet to be studied that could bring us even closer to understanding how the Moon was formed.”
Journal reference:
- The Effect of Pre-Impact Rotation on the Forming Collision of the Moon, Royal Astronomical Society Monthly Notices (2020). DOI: 10.1093 / mnras / staa3385
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