(ANSA) - Rome, April 10 - According to new research, the
Moon was likely formed by the impact between Earth and its
smaller "twin" planet Theia some four billion years ago, sources
said Friday.
The impact with a planet that was chemically a near-match
to Earth is thought to have created a cloud of debris that
eventually conglomerated into the Moon as we know it.
This would explain why Earth and its satellite are
near-twins in terms of composition.
The findings published this month in the journal Nature are
the result of the latest computer simulations of the
hypothetical event led by Italian astronomer Alessandra
Mastrobuono-Battisti with the Israel Institute of Technology in
Haifa.
Italian astronomer simulates Moon birth
Born of collision between Earth and its 'twin' Theia