A new simulation suggests that a giant impact may have formed the Moon intact in just five hours. Researchers from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), in a study led by scientists from the University of Arizona, used cutting-edge computing techniques to recreate the formation of the Earth-Moon system.
The simulations show fundamental differences in how the Moon is thought to have formed from the giant impact that created the Earth-Moon system. The techniques used take into account the material strength of the two colliding planets, which represents a significant advance over previous simulations.
The results were presented in a paper published earlier this month in the journal The Astrophysical Journal Letters. These findings may change the way scientists understand the Moon's origin and the processes of natural satellite formation in planetary systems.
