Earth and Moon: Separated at birth?

H2O Molecule     (Image by Ju)

Not that long ago, it seemed that moon rocks were subtly different from earth rocks.  But that was then, and scientists are now focusing upon some core similarities.

Space.com reports that “Earth and the moon have indistinguishable oxygen isotope ratios, within 5 parts per million when it comes to oxygen-17.”  So what might this mean?

This much similarity suggests that the moon was once part and parcel of a newborn earth.  Shortly thereafter, “Earth was hit by a Mars-  size rock named Theia.”  Researchers believe that debris from this impact “later coalesced into the moon.”

Since oxygen-17 is water-bearing, these findings hint that moon rocks might also contain some forms of the wet stuff.

Resources

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/violent-impact-that-created-moon-mixed-lunar-and-earth-rocks/ar-BBoPwXl?ocid=ansmsnnews11

Copyright January 31, 2016 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved