Lead researcher Professor Darren Williams states, 'No one knows how the moon was formed. For the last four decades, we have had one possibility for how it got there. Now, we have two.' This comment highlights the ongoing uncertainties in lunar science and the significance of presenting new theories to reshape our understanding of the moon's origins, particularly distinguishing between well-established and emerging hypotheses.
The historically dominant "collision" theory posits that the moon formed from debris caused by an impact with the protoplanet Theia. This theory was built upon lunar samples collected during the Apollo missions, with some experts arguing its suitability based solely on the moon's chemical similarities with Earth.
The study suggests a new 'binary-exchange capture' model, wherein the moon might have originally been part of a binary system, being captured into orbit by Earth rather than forming from impact debris. This revised understanding opens up new avenues of research regarding the complex dynamics of early solar system interactions.
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