A photo from open sources
Scientists have discovered evidence that the moon has arisen billions of years ago as a result of the collision of the Earth with large heavenly body.
Analysis of lunar rocks delivered by American astronauts to Earth, shows that they contain traces of minerals, of which this hypothetical celestial body, called Thea The results of the study are published in the journal Science.
Scientists believe that their discovery confirms much years ago, the hypothesis of the formation of the moon 4.5 billion years ago. Planet Thea was named after the Greek goddess, mother of Selena, goddess of the moon.
The clash between Earth and Thea occurred at an early stage the formation of the solar system when it was filled semi-formed accumulations of dust and rocks.
However, this theory, put forward in the early 1980s and is well fit into mathematical models, until now did not have material confirmation, since it was not possible to detect traces Those in samples of lunar rocks.
Earlier analyzes indicated that lunar rocks have exclusively terrestrial origin, while computer models indicated that the moon should be composed mainly of Tei breeds.
Unearthly rocks
And now, a more accurate analysis of lunar rocks has led scientists to the conclusion that the moon is really composed of unearthly rocks.
It remains a mystery why the isotopic composition of the moon is so close. earthly
A photo from open sources
According to the head of the research team, Dr. Daniel Hervarts from the University of Gottingen, before this discovery, many scientists generally began to doubt the correctness of the theory of the formation of the moon in the result of a collision.
“However, now we have found small differences in isotopic composition between terrestrial and lunar rocks, which confirms the theory collisions, “he told the BBC.
Dr. Herwatz and his colleagues measured differences in isotopic composition of oxygen contained in terrestrial and lunar rocks. But it turned out that this indicator is almost identical for the breeds, from which the Earth is made of and of which Thea was made.
One explanation for this strange fact is that Thea formed very close to Earth and therefore had a similar isotopic composition. If so, then the existing view of that each planet in the solar system must have its own, its characteristic chemical composition, needs revision.
New designs
Dr. Mahesh Anand from Open University in Britain indicates that this study is based on an analysis of only three samples of lunar rocks.
A photo from open sources
“We must exercise caution in concluding representativeness of these rocks for the entire moon, and therefore required analysis of new samples taken in other regions of the moon, “says scientist.
There are a number of other theories that explain the origin of the moon. So, Professor Rob de Meyer from the University of Groningen at The Netherlands put forward a highly controversial theory that the moon formed from the fragments of the earth’s mantle and crust ejected explosion of nuclear materials at a depth of 2900 km below the surface Of the earth.
According to him, the new results of the analysis of lunar rocks are not contrary to his theory.
“The difference in isotopic composition is too small,” he said. “We we don’t know how the moon was formed. We need new expeditions to the moon with the participation of people. They will be able to get samples of lunar rocks from great depths that are not contaminated by meteorites and the solar wind. ”
Moon Solar System
