Traces of another world found on the moon

Scientists say that lunar samples collected in the 1960s and 1970s by astronauts are half from planetary body Theia and from Earth.

17:58 06 June 2014

Research scientists have claimed that the Moon may have been created as a result of Earth colliding with a giant planetary rock. 

 

Based on the theory known as the Giant Impact Hypothesis, a planetary body called Theia collided into Earth some 4.5 billion years ago; the debris then formed the moon. 

 

Supporting evidence that was presented by Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen included newly analysed moon samples that were half from Earth and half from Theia. 

 

The findings state: "They were able to detect a slightly but distinctly higher composition of the oxygen isotope in the lunar samples.

 

"This very small difference supports the Giant Impact Hypothesis of Moon formation."

 

The author of the report, Daniel Herwartz from Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, said: "The differences are small and difficult to detect, but they are there.

 

"We can now be reasonably sure that the Giant collision took place."