Moon-forming simulations (IMAGE)

University of Arizona

Moon-forming simulations

Caption

New modeling that accounts for material strength revealed fundamental changes in how the moon forms after a giant collision between a Mars-sized impactor and Earth. Simulations that neglect strength (top) produce a debris disk that forms the moon over time while those factoring in strength (bottom) can produce an intact moon right from the start.

Credit

Courtesy of SwRI

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