The prevailing consensus among scientists for the genesis of our Moon is that the impact from a body the size of Mars, which hit Earth 4.5 billion years ago, threw up an immense amount of debris which eventually formed our nearest celestial neighbour.
New computer modelling shows an early impact on the young Earth may have changed its direction of rotation. Photo: Moon over Golden Gate bridge. Credit: SF Brit/flickr
However problems have occurred with research showing Earth's initial spin on its axis not being sufficient to throw up enough material from the crash to form a body the Moon's size.
Recent computer modelling though, from scientists at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, has shown the impact drastically influenced the original spin of the proto-planet Earth, changed drastically its axis of rotation, slowing down its day.
It is even possible the impact may have changed around the rotation of the Earth, reports the New Scientist.
The Institute's Robin Canup said her team's research had shown that, prior to the impact, Earth's axis would have been more steeply tilted and the planet would have spun much faster bringing more extreme seasons.
The Earth's day may even have been have been as little as four hours long.
Canup built her computer model made up of as many as 120,000 pieces of virtual rock and says if the Earth did in fact rotate faster and in the opposite direction, it would have thrown up enough debris to form the Moon following the collision.
Her research, taking into account the spin of the Earth at the time, had not been taken into account by previous models.
The team's findings are published in Icarus magazine.
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dr. vApr 20th, 2008 - 23:35:12
Correction: I think you mean the impact occurred 4.5 billion, not million, years ago.
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dr. vApr 20th, 2008 - 23:35:12
Correction: I think you mean the impact occurred 4.5 billion, not million, years ago.
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