Moon Born in Hours: New Study Rewrites Lunar History

New scientific findings propose that the Moon might have coalesced into a solid body in a surprisingly short period, possibly as little as five hours. This radically contrasts with prior scientific consensus, which generally estimated the Moon's formation to span several years.

This re-evaluation stems from advanced computer simulations conducted by scientists. These models indicate that the heat of Earth and the protoplanet Theia before their monumental collision 4.5 billion years ago played a crucial role. Dr. Adeene Denton noted that these temperatures influenced how quickly the debris disk assembled.

Unlike previous models that treated celestial bodies as fluid, the latest research incorporated the strength of planetary materials. This inclusion, particularly relevant for understanding collisions, yielded significantly different outcomes for the Moon's formation timeline. The findings could refine our understanding of when the collision occurred and explain compositional variations in the lunar body.

This improved model may also shed light on the compositional similarities between Earth and the Moon, suggesting a common origin in the protoplanetary disk. It further supports the idea that planetary differences, like those between Earth and Mars, are due to formation in distinct regions.