A Conversation for Ask h2g2
How Was The Moon Made?
Sam Started conversation Jan 31, 2003
My girlfriend asked me how the moon was made, last night. Where did it come from? From earth itself? From elsewhere? I pretended to know, and then very quickly changed the subect. The truth is, I haven't got a bloody clue. Can anybody help me please. Just how was the moon made? 
How Was The Moon Made?
PQ Posted Jan 31, 2003
Big meteorite about 4.3-4.4 billion yrs ago (less than a billion or so yrs after the earth was formed)
Hit the earth, melted the surface...the material that was splatted started to orbit the earth and soon became one big blob...the moon.
There are some websites around somewhere I'll see if I can hunt on down.
How Was The Moon Made?
PQ Posted Jan 31, 2003
"less than a billion or so yrs after the earth was formed"
Sorry - 0.1 of a billion or 100,000,000yrs
How Was The Moon Made?
PQ Posted Jan 31, 2003
The arguements behind it are listed (along with the other theories and the arguements against them) here
http://www.union.edu/PUBLIC/GEODEPT/COURSES/geochemistry/moon_scn.htm
Scroll down to Hypotheses for the origin of the Moon
Still looking for a site with pretty pictures
How Was The Moon Made?
IctoanAWEWawi Posted Jan 31, 2003
Um, I don't think there were any cameras when the moon was formed...
How Was The Moon Made?
PQ Posted Jan 31, 2003
http://pegasus.phast.umass.edu/a100/handouts/moonform.html
The links from the "Catastrophic Collision" paragraph show the process as it was modelled fairly recently...as well as a lovely artists impression
How Was The Moon Made?
Zantic - Who is this woman?? Posted Jan 31, 2003
The epitome of utter and unadulterated evil and chos took form as a big planet that was going to hit earth as it's first target. Was stopped but the placing of the fifth element in the center of the other four. See "The Fifth Element", with Bruce Willis et al.
(my little world is so easily explained...wanna come and visit?)
How Was The Moon Made?
Sam Posted Jan 31, 2003
Thank you everyone (especially Pencil Queen) - I shall read up on the links, carefully digest the information, and report back! Thanks again.
How Was The Moon Made?
Wampus Posted Jan 31, 2003
That "lovely artist's impression" sure is an odd-looking sight.
How Was The Moon Made?
PQ Posted Jan 31, 2003
I just love the thought of a great big splat
PQ(early earth history 
)
How Was The Moon Made?
maduin Posted Jan 31, 2003
Isn't it amazing that the moon actually appears to be exactly the same size as the sun from the earth? I mean, what a remarkable celestial fluke.
How Was The Moon Made?
Serephina Posted Jan 31, 2003
My little boy always asks why the moon is following us when we have to go out in the evening!...ive tried to explain to him that it isnt,etc but he just wont have it!..
What I do think is fascinating is the effect the moon has on our moods etc
As a person born with the moon in cancer it affects mine more than most..
How Was The Moon Made?
Wampus Posted Jan 31, 2003
Imagine if Monty Python made an animation of that collision and the resulting splat noise.
How Was The Moon Made?
PQ Posted Jan 31, 2003
That's more or less how I imagine it...it was one of my favourite bits of geology because it's so daft but so logical and so y
Key: Complain about this post
How Was The Moon Made?
- 1: Sam (Jan 31, 2003)
- 2: Danny B (Jan 31, 2003)
- 3: PQ (Jan 31, 2003)
- 4: PQ (Jan 31, 2003)
- 5: PQ (Jan 31, 2003)
- 6: IctoanAWEWawi (Jan 31, 2003)
- 7: PQ (Jan 31, 2003)
- 8: Seamus...the forbidden (Jan 31, 2003)
- 9: Zantic - Who is this woman?? (Jan 31, 2003)
- 10: Sam (Jan 31, 2003)
- 11: Wampus (Jan 31, 2003)
- 12: PQ (Jan 31, 2003)
- 13: maduin (Jan 31, 2003)
- 14: Serephina (Jan 31, 2003)
- 15: Wampus (Jan 31, 2003)
- 16: PQ (Jan 31, 2003)
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