tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822428485586445604.post3710383297133961878..comments2024-01-16T21:38:14.352-10:00Comments on A Pacific View: The end of the worldTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07917420597770463210noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822428485586445604.post-8321522902153916842009-01-24T08:32:00.000-10:002009-01-24T08:32:00.000-10:00Tom, thank you so much for the explanation; wow, s...Tom, thank you so much for the explanation; wow, size of Mars? Did the asteroid completely disintegrated upon impact then? Melted with the Earth, I take it.<BR/>This is all very fascinating.;)Zuzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02137958790178864561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822428485586445604.post-53103305289727535262009-01-23T21:13:00.000-10:002009-01-23T21:13:00.000-10:00Protege - there are a three main theories about th...Protege - there are a three main theories about the moon's formation. 1) it formed in situ with the earth, 2) it was captured by the earth's gravitional field and 3) it was caused by a collision between the earth and something else very early in the solar system's life.<BR/><BR/>The latter is by far my favourite as it fits the evidence. If the moon formed with the earth then the rocks would be identical. They're very close, but the moon lacks volatile elements/isotopes we see in earth rocks. Number 2 could happen, but statistically very unlikely. Number 3 explains many facts. The rocks are similar to earth's and the volatile stuff was burned off during the energetic collision (including water). Several groups have shown using physics-based computer models that the result of an earth-moon system from a collision is quite likely.<BR/><BR/>Incidentally, the collision was with something a little bigger than an asteroid - try a mars-sized planet! That sort of thing happened when the solar system was being formed. Fortunately it doesn't happen quite so often 4.5 billion years on...Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07917420597770463210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822428485586445604.post-90501920908029172952009-01-22T00:11:00.000-10:002009-01-22T00:11:00.000-10:00Wow Tom, this is amazing; in a ominous kind of way...Wow Tom, this is amazing; in a ominous kind of way.;)) A scary show for the eyes and soul.;)<BR/>Thank you so much for posting it and for linking to me.;))<BR/>By the way, I am very fascinated by the moon. Isn't there a theory that the moon is a product of a collision between and asteroid and the earth? What is your take on it?Zuzanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02137958790178864561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5822428485586445604.post-77529554665676071352009-01-21T23:14:00.000-10:002009-01-21T23:14:00.000-10:00You think you can dial an asteroid in on my dentis...You think you can dial an asteroid in on my dentists office?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com