New Study Suggests Moon Had Many Mini-Siblings in Earth’s Orbit

Have you ever wondered about the origins of our moon? A recent study suggests that the newborn moon may have had many mini-siblings in Earth’s orbit long ago. This fascinating discovery could help explain some of the mysterious features of our moon today.

The study, which was accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal, sheds new light on the formation of our moon. According to the research, the moon may have formed from a disk of debris left over after a Mars-sized object collided with Earth. However, this theory doesn’t explain everything about the moon’s current features.

One of the biggest mysteries about the moon is its asymmetry. The near side of the moon is smooth and flat, while the far side is rugged and mountainous. This asymmetry has puzzled scientists for decades, but the new study suggests that mini-moons could be the missing piece of the puzzle.

The researchers used computer simulations to model the early solar system and the formation of the moon. They found that the newborn moon may have had many mini-siblings in Earth’s orbit. These mini-moons would have been created from the same disk of debris that formed the moon, but they would have been much smaller.

Over time, these mini-moons would have collided with each other and merged with the moon. This process would have created the asymmetry we see today. The smooth near side of the moon would have been formed from the collisions of smaller mini-moons, while the rugged far side would have been formed from larger mini-moons.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Kaveh Pahlevan, explains that “the mini-moons would have been like siblings competing for resources. Eventually, only the strongest mini-moons would have survived and merged with the moon.”

The discovery of mini-moons could also have implications for exoplanets and their moons. The researchers suggest that similar mini-moons could orbit distant exoplanets and their moons, which could help explain some of the strange features we observe in these systems.

Overall, this study provides new insights into the formation of our moon and the early solar system. It also highlights the importance of computer simulations in understanding complex astronomical phenomena.