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Planetary science

A new model Moon

Nature volume 412, pages 694–695 (2001)Cite this article

The most sophisticated simulations yet of the Moon's birth show that it could have been created from an impact of a large body with a fully formed, rather than half-formed, Earth.

Now, however, thanks to the advance of computer technology and the development of better impact algorithms, other groups are also able to simulate collisions between planets. On page 708 of this issue4, Canup and Asphaug usher in this new era by describing the outcome of the giant impact in terms that in many respects differ from Cameron's latest results5.

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Figure 1

NASA/JPL

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lunar and Planetary Lab West, University of Arizona, 1040 East Fourth Street, Gould–Simpson Building, Room 901, Tucson, 85721-0077, Arizona, USA

    Jay Melosh

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  1. Jay Melosh
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Correspondence to Jay Melosh.

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Melosh, J. A new model Moon. Nature 412, 694–695 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35089176

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