giant impact hypothesis: (noun) The theory that our Moon formed from debris left after a Mars-sized planet collided with early Earth. It's the ultimate cosmic car crash.

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BETA

gus Swipe escaping gas molecules to learn why the moon has no atmosphere.

Jul 14

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gus Moon's Violent Birth

Giant Impact! Giant Impact! Created our Moon, out of fire and space!

Jul 14

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gus Why the Moon is slowly drifting away

Jun 4

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gus Why the Moon is slowly drifting away

Jun 4

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gus How the Moon got its dark spots

Jun 4

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Fun Fact

Moon dust scent: Apollo astronauts reported that lunar dust smells surprisingly like spent gunpowder after it clings to spacesuits.

Jun 4

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Glossary

giant impact hypothesis (noun)
The theory that our Moon formed from debris left after a Mars-sized planet collided with early Earth. It's the ultimate cosmic car crash.

Jun 4

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Gossip

Would you buy a piece of Moon dust?

Jun 4

A

adriurrego3

Quiz

What geological process created the large, dark patches on the Moon's surface known as 'maria'?

Jun 5

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gus How the Moon got its dark spots

Jun 4

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Quiz

What causes the 'moonquakes' that scientists have detected on the lunar surface?

Jun 4

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gus The giant collision that made the Moon

Jun 4

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Quiz

What is the name of the ancient, Mars-sized protoplanet that scientists believe collided with Earth to form the Moon?

Jun 4

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gus The mystery of the Moon's missing core

Jun 4

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Quiz

Why does the Moon have no weather like wind or rain?

Jun 4

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Quiz

How far does the Moon drift away from Earth each year on average?

Jun 4

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Quiz

How long does it take for the Moon to complete one full rotation on its own axis?

Jun 4

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Quiz

Which of these elements is surprisingly rare in the Moon's core compared to Earth's core?

Jun 4

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Quiz

How does the Moon's gravity compare to Earth's gravity?

Jun 4

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Quiz

What does the Latin word 'maria' mean, which astronomers use to describe the dark, flat plains on the Moon?

Jun 4

Our neighbor the moon

The violent birth of our Moon

The gravity dance of tides and phases

The Moon in human history and culture

Footprints in the lunar dust