Tag Archives: moon

Younger Moon?

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Moon may be younger than thought, study says

An analysis of a lunar rock raises questions about when and how the moon was formed. It may be 200 million years younger than widely believed.

Moon over L.A.The moon rises over Los Angeles City Hall. The new analysis could leave scientists who model the moon’s formation “scratching their heads,” said an isotope geochemist who was not involved in the study. (Scott Harrison / Los Angeles Times)

 

By Amina Khan, Los Angeles TimesAugust 18, 2011

The moon may be 200 million years younger than widely believed, according to a new analysis of a rock brought back to Earth in 1972 by Apollo 16 astronauts. Or, if not, the moon may never have had the magma ocean that scientists think covered its surface soon after it formed.

Either way, the findings published online Wednesday by the journal Nature could send lunar scientists back to the drawing board to reconsider the moon’s evolution.

The moon is thought to have formed from debris ejected into space after a Mars-sized body collided with the still-molten Earth about 4.5 billion years ago. The young moon would have been hot and blanketed by magma. But without a thick atmosphere to trap its heat, the molten rock cooled relatively quickly, while minerals that were less dense than the magma floated to the top first, forming the moon’s crust. These rocks give the white highlands of the moon’s near side their pale hue, and have been used to determine the point at which the moon solidified into the body we know today.

Earth’s Two Moons?

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Earth may once have had two moons

By Matt McGrathScience reporter, BBC World Service

A new theory suggests the Earth once had a small second moon that perished in a slow motion collision with its “big sister”.

Researchers suggest the collision may explain the mysterious mountains on the far side of our Moon.

The scientists say the relatively slow speed of the crash was crucial in adding material to the rarely-seen lunar hemisphere.

Details have been published in the journal Nature.

The researchers involved hope that data from two US space agency (Nasa) lunar missions will substantiate or challenge their theory within the next year.

For decades, scientists have been trying to understand why the near side of the Moon – the one visible from Earth – is flat and cratered while the rarely-seen far side is heavily cratered and has mountain ranges higher than 3,000m.

Various theories have been proposed to explain what’s termed the lunar dichotomy. One suggests that tidal heating, caused by the pull of the Earth on the ocean of liquid rock that once flowed under the lunar crust, may have been the cause.

But this latest paper proposes a different solution: a long-term series of cosmic collisions.

to read more, go to:    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14391929

Differences in Lunar Surface Explained

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Study reveals why the Moon’s sides are different, hit by companion

Published on August 3, 2011 1:40 pm PT
– By Dave Tole – Writer
– Article Editor and Approved – Ron Jackson


Click for larger image

(TheWeatherSpace.com) — The moon may have been hit by a second moon orbiting the Earth which explains why the two sides are different.

The ‘dark side’ of the moon is never shown at Earth and it rotates with the rotation of Earth so precise that we may never see it.

But spacecrafts have seen the other side of the moon, which has been discovered to be different than the Earth-facing side.

Scientists have discovered through an animation that a collision between Earth’s moon and a companion moon that was 750 miles wide and about 4 percent the lunar mass, may have been response for the different terrains.

The impact would have pushed an underground source of magma toward the near side, explaining why rare-earth metals and radioactive potassium, uranium, and thorium are concentrated best near the crust there.

fr/ww.theweatherspace.com/news/TWS-08_03_2011_moonside.html

Connection-Lunar Eclipse, Earthquakes. Volcanoe

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Total Lunar Eclipse – Earthquakes and Volcanoes That Follow

By Mitch Battros – Earth Changes Media
Jun 20, 2011 – 11:16:45 AM

  

What I am about to tell you should be considered ‘conjecture’ until adopted and established by the majority of world scientists; however what I will layout below is pure unabated ‘fact’. As many of you know, I am a researcher and author whom among other items, study the science-of-cycles. What I see coming based on this science is worthy of announcement.

 

This is not a warning of imminent danger, but rather a ‘tap on the shoulder’ to be aware of the possible consequences of June 15th total lunar eclipse. There is a noticeable cycle of escalation in earthquake and volcanic activity within two weeks prior and/or two weeks after a full lunar eclipse.

to read more, go to:    http://www.earthchangesmedia.com/publish/article-9162531044.php