Collision between Earth and Theia (artist's impression) (IMAGE)

University of Arizona

Collision between Earth and Theia (artist's impression)

Caption

New modeling studies that factor in geologic strength found fundamental changes in how the moon may have formed from the collision between a Mars-sized impactor and Earth. Simulations using older models that don’t factor in structural strength produce a debris disk (top), while the new models can produce an intact moon from the outset (bottom).

Credit

NASA/JPL-CalTech/T. Pyle

Usage Restrictions

No restrictions.

License

Public Domain

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