Scientists at the University of Durham’s Institute of Computational Cosmology used the most detailed supercomputer simulations to reveal an alternative explanation for the moon’s origins, with a gigantic impact instantly placing a moon-like object in Earth’s orbit.
The researchers simulated hundreds of different impacts, varying the angle and speed of the collision, as well as the mass and rotation of the two colliding objects in their search for scenarios that could explain the current Earth-Moon system. This calculation is done using open source SWIFT simulation Code, which runs on the DiRAC Memory Intensive Service (“COSMA”), hosted by Durham University on behalf of the DiRAC High Performance Computing Facility.
Additional computing power reveals that low-resolution simulations can miss important aspects of large-scale collisions, allowing researchers to discover features not available to previous studies. Only high-resolution simulations produce lunar-like satellites, and further details show that the outer layers are richer in material from Earth.
If most of the Moon formed soon after the giant’s impact, it could also mean that less melting occurred during the formation than the standard theory where the Moon grows inside a disk of debris around the Earth. Depending on the details of the subsequent solidification, these theories should predict various internal structures of the Moon.
Credit: Dr. Jacob Kejris
Vincent Ecke, co-author of the study, said: “This training path can help explain the similarities in isotope composition between moonstone Returned by the Apollo astronauts and the Earth’s mantle. There could also be real consequences for the thickness of the lunar crust, which will allow us to further determine the type of collision that occurred. “
Furthermore, they found that even when a satellite passes very close to Earth, it should break down due to “tidal force“By Earth’s gravity, satellites can actually not only survive, but can also be propelled into larger orbits, safe from future destruction.
“This opens up a whole new set of potential stepping stones for lunar evolution,” said lead author of the study, Jacob Kegres. “We entered this project not knowing exactly what the results of these very high resolution simulations would be. So, in addition to the big revelation that the Standard’s decision could give the wrong answer, it’s exciting that the new results could include a moon-like satellite in orbit. “
The moon is believed to have formed after a collision 4.5 billion years ago between the young Earth and a Mars-sized object called Theia. Most theories created the moon through the gradual accumulation of debris from this impact. However, this is contradicted by measurements of the moon rock which showed that its composition is similar to that of the Earth’s mantle, while the impact produced debris mainly from Theia.
This direct satellite scenario opens up new possibilities for the early lunar orbit, as well as the predicted composition and internal structure of the Moon. The upcoming lunar flights will reveal new clues to the type of giant impact that led to the moon, which in turn will tell us the story of the Earth itself.
The research team includes scientists from NASA Ames Research Center and the University of Glasgow, UK, and their simulation results have been published in Astrophysics diary letter.
The supercomputer simulation can unravel the mystery of the moon’s formation
JA Kegerreis et al, Direct origins of the Moon as a post-impact satellite, Astrophysics diary letter (2022). www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2022/pdf/1724.pdf
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Durham University
CitationScientists reveal in a new simulation (2022, Oct.4) that a giant collision could form the moon first (2022, Oct.4), recovered Oct.4, 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022 -10-giant -impact – moon-rapidly-scientists. programming language
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