Most theories about the formation of the Moon use a "Huge Impact" a a probable cause for the Moon's creation. Problem? Oh yes, analysis of samples from the moon show that they are identical with those of Earth's. No third planet material is detected in either samples, which is a major setback to proving said theory.
Now a German team has re-examined the moon rock samples and discovered a measurable
difference in the ratio of Oxygen isotopes with the
samples having a slightly higher concentration of Oxygen 17 than Earth
rock does, which the researchers claim is evidence that a rogue planet played a
part in the formation of the moon.
Of course not everyone is sold. Critics of the updated huge impactor suggest that they would expect a more radical difference in chemical compositions between Earth and the theoretical huge asteroid. The German team also had only a small sample set to work with, but the lead researcher is pretty convinced: "This confirms the giant impact hypothesis."
2 comments:
" Critics of the updated huge impactor suggest that they would expect a more radical difference in chemical compositions between Earth and the theoretical huge asteroid."
Why? What if the asteroid or small planet simply had always been nearby to earth and was formed about the same time from similar material?
You know, that didnt make a whole lot of sense either except that chemical analysis of asteroid debris shows a substantial difference in several oxygen isotopes. I would expect that if one observation is true then any others in the same vein would have to follow the same rules.
Thanks ANON
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