Difference between revisions of "Origin of the Moon"

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Various scientific theories regarding the origin of the moon have been considered as follows:<ref name="PSI">Planetary Science Institute: [http://www.psi.edu/projects/moon/moon.html The Origin of the Moon]</ref>
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All the prevailing, [[atheistic]] theories of the '''origin of the [[Moon]]''' were completely disproved by the lunar landings and studies of the lunar rocks afterwards. The material lacked [[iron]] that permeates the [[Earth]]'s crust.
  
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*The Moon formed in an orbit around Earth at the same time that Earth formed.
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Specifically, each of these prevailing scientific theories was disproved by the lunar landings:<ref name="PSI">Planetary Science Institute: [http://www.psi.edu/projects/moon/moon.html The Origin of the Moon]</ref>
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**This idea was discarded when it was discovered that the moon has proportionally far less iron in it than the Earth.
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*The Moon formed in a part of the solar system that was low in iron, and was later captured into an orbit arount the Earth.
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*The [[Moon]] formed in an orbit around [[Earth]] at the same time that Earth formed.
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**This failed upon examination of lunar rocks, which exhibit the same oxygen isotope composition as the Earth, unlike rocks known to come from other sources in the solar system, e.g. Mars.
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**This theory was disproved upon learning that the [[Moon]] has proportionally far less iron in it than the [[Earth]].
  
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*The Earth was originally spinning so fast that it spun off a fragment of lower density (iron-poor) material which became the Moon.
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*The [[Moon]] formed in a part of the solar system that was low in iron, and was later captured into an orbit around the Earth.
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**This was also disproved by examination of lunar rocks, which exhibit the same oxygen isotope composition as the Earth, unlike rocks known to come from other sources in the solar system, e.g. [[Mars]].
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*The [[Earth]] was originally spinning so fast that it spun off a fragment of lower density (iron-poor) material which became the [[Moon]].
 
**This solves the isotopic similarity and the relative lack of iron, but an analysis of the total angular momentum and energy involved ruled out this possibility.
 
**This solves the isotopic similarity and the relative lack of iron, but an analysis of the total angular momentum and energy involved ruled out this possibility.
  
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*An impact with a large planetesimal (asteroid-like body) released a great quantity of debris into orbit, a portion of which collected under the influence of gravity. This theory is the currently accepted scientific explanation of the origin of the Moon as it is able to explain the facts which contradicted earlier ideas:
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== Giant-Impact Model ==
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**The impact of the planetesimal happened relatively late in the earth's formation, which would explain (among other things) the lack of iron: By the time of the impact, the Earth's iron had already sunk deeper towards the core. Thus, the debris that eventually formed the Moon came from the iron-depleted mantle. Most of the planetesimal itself would have sunk into the earth's core.
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For ten years after the lunar landings, atheistic scientists lacked any accepted theory about the [[Moon]]'s origin.  In 1984, an international meeting was convened in Kona, [[Hawaii]], for the purpose of agreeing on a new theory for the origin of the [[Moon]].<ref>''Id.''</ref>  The attendees at the meeting agreed upon the following "giant-impact model," which was first proposed in 1975 but which had not yet been generally accepted.<ref>''Id.''</ref>  Nearly two decades later, ''Scientific American'' observed that:<ref name="Giant Impact">http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=5&articleID=000A90B0-C919-1C6E-84A9809EC588EF21 (emphasis added).</ref>
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**Since the Moon was created from debris blown out of the Earth, the Earth and the Moon have the same oxygen isotope composition.
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**Enough energy would be released from a major collision such as this to put a substantial mass of the earth's crust into orbit.
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== Reference ==
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:'''''Unfortunately, researchers have had trouble getting the giant-impact model to work without the contrivances that scuttled earlier theories.'''''
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:Four facts and three parameters is a recipe for contradiction. To explain the moon's low iron content, you need to avoid a grazing collision (corresponding to a large impact angle), lest too much of the impactor's iron spill into orbit. Then, to explain the angular momentum, you need to compensate for the smallish angle with a hefty impactor. Then, to explain the moon's mass, you need to adjust the proto-[[Earth]]'s mass. In the end, you might find that the total mass is incorrect.
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 +
The Giant-Impact Model proposes that an impact with a large planetesimal (asteroid-like body) released a great quantity of debris into orbit, a portion of which collected under the influence of gravity. There is no direct evidence for this theory.  It is supported by [[atheistic]] scientists, however, primarily due to lack of any alternative explanation for them.  They try to fit the observations to this theory as follows:
 +
:*The lack of [[iron]], provided the impact of the planetesimal happened relatively late in the earth's formation and after the [[Earth]]'s [[iron]] had sunk towards its core.  In that manner the [[Moon]] might possibly have picked up mantle from the Earth that has less [[iron]].  Most of the planetesimal itself would have sunk into the earth's core.
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:*The similar oxygen isotope composition between the [[Moon]] and [[Earth]] could possibly be explained by such a collision, provided the [[Moon]] were then formed from debris dislodged from the [[Earth]] by the collision.
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:*A high-velocity collision might be sufficient to release enough energy to place a substantial mass of the [[Earth]]'s crust into orbit.
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== Criticisms of the Giant-Impact Model ==
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This new theory has been criticized as lacking testability and falsifiability, which are essential aspects of science as explained by [[Karl Popper]]. While it seems possible ''prima facie'' to test the theory, it is likely that atheistic scientists will merely amend the theory to skirt the failures of such tests, rendering the theory extremely difficult if not impossible to falsify.
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Scientists did find that none of three proposed tests are "supportive of the Giant Impact model."<ref>http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/origin98/pdf/4045.pdf</ref>
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Another article noted that the Moon is lacking in siderophilic elements (Au, Co, Fe, Ir, Mn, Mo, Ni, Os, Pd, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru) found on Earth, and this indicates that the Moon was not formed by materials broken off of Earth, thereby demonstrating the implausibility of the theory.<ref>http://www.ias.ac.in/jessci/dec2005/ilc-3.pdf</ref>
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A third study found that "the bulk composition of the Moon differs significantly from that of the terrestrial mantle" and that "[t]he high
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bulk FeO content of the Moon rules out the derivation of the proto-lunar material from any but a small fraction of the terrestrial mantle."<ref>http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc97/pdf/1070.PDF</ref>
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''Scientific American'' concluded:<ref name="Giant Impact"/>
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:Considering all the twists and turns in lunar science, nobody claims that the models are complete just yet.
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== References ==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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[[Category:Astronomy]]
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[[Category:Moon]]

Latest revision as of 17:03, July 13, 2016

All the prevailing, atheistic theories of the origin of the Moon were completely disproved by the lunar landings and studies of the lunar rocks afterwards. The material lacked iron that permeates the Earth's crust.

Specifically, each of these prevailing scientific theories was disproved by the lunar landings:[1]

  • The Moon formed in an orbit around Earth at the same time that Earth formed.
    • This theory was disproved upon learning that the Moon has proportionally far less iron in it than the Earth.
  • The Moon formed in a part of the solar system that was low in iron, and was later captured into an orbit around the Earth.
    • This was also disproved by examination of lunar rocks, which exhibit the same oxygen isotope composition as the Earth, unlike rocks known to come from other sources in the solar system, e.g. Mars.
  • The Earth was originally spinning so fast that it spun off a fragment of lower density (iron-poor) material which became the Moon.
    • This solves the isotopic similarity and the relative lack of iron, but an analysis of the total angular momentum and energy involved ruled out this possibility.

Giant-Impact Model

For ten years after the lunar landings, atheistic scientists lacked any accepted theory about the Moon's origin. In 1984, an international meeting was convened in Kona, Hawaii, for the purpose of agreeing on a new theory for the origin of the Moon.[2] The attendees at the meeting agreed upon the following "giant-impact model," which was first proposed in 1975 but which had not yet been generally accepted.[3] Nearly two decades later, Scientific American observed that:[4]

Unfortunately, researchers have had trouble getting the giant-impact model to work without the contrivances that scuttled earlier theories.
Four facts and three parameters is a recipe for contradiction. To explain the moon's low iron content, you need to avoid a grazing collision (corresponding to a large impact angle), lest too much of the impactor's iron spill into orbit. Then, to explain the angular momentum, you need to compensate for the smallish angle with a hefty impactor. Then, to explain the moon's mass, you need to adjust the proto-Earth's mass. In the end, you might find that the total mass is incorrect.

The Giant-Impact Model proposes that an impact with a large planetesimal (asteroid-like body) released a great quantity of debris into orbit, a portion of which collected under the influence of gravity. There is no direct evidence for this theory. It is supported by atheistic scientists, however, primarily due to lack of any alternative explanation for them. They try to fit the observations to this theory as follows:

  • The lack of iron, provided the impact of the planetesimal happened relatively late in the earth's formation and after the Earth's iron had sunk towards its core. In that manner the Moon might possibly have picked up mantle from the Earth that has less iron. Most of the planetesimal itself would have sunk into the earth's core.
  • The similar oxygen isotope composition between the Moon and Earth could possibly be explained by such a collision, provided the Moon were then formed from debris dislodged from the Earth by the collision.
  • A high-velocity collision might be sufficient to release enough energy to place a substantial mass of the Earth's crust into orbit.

Criticisms of the Giant-Impact Model

This new theory has been criticized as lacking testability and falsifiability, which are essential aspects of science as explained by Karl Popper. While it seems possible prima facie to test the theory, it is likely that atheistic scientists will merely amend the theory to skirt the failures of such tests, rendering the theory extremely difficult if not impossible to falsify.

Scientists did find that none of three proposed tests are "supportive of the Giant Impact model."[5]

Another article noted that the Moon is lacking in siderophilic elements (Au, Co, Fe, Ir, Mn, Mo, Ni, Os, Pd, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru) found on Earth, and this indicates that the Moon was not formed by materials broken off of Earth, thereby demonstrating the implausibility of the theory.[6]

A third study found that "the bulk composition of the Moon differs significantly from that of the terrestrial mantle" and that "[t]he high bulk FeO content of the Moon rules out the derivation of the proto-lunar material from any but a small fraction of the terrestrial mantle."[7]

Scientific American concluded:[4]

Considering all the twists and turns in lunar science, nobody claims that the models are complete just yet.

References

  1. ↑ Planetary Science Institute: The Origin of the Moon
  2. ↑ Id.
  3. ↑ Id.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=5&articleID=000A90B0-C919-1C6E-84A9809EC588EF21 (emphasis added).
  5. ↑ http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/origin98/pdf/4045.pdf
  6. ↑ http://www.ias.ac.in/jessci/dec2005/ilc-3.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc97/pdf/1070.PDF
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