Comments on: Water on Earth and Moon May Have Common Origin https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/02/water-on-earth-and-moon-may-have-common-origin/ Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:41:18 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: DanS https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/02/water-on-earth-and-moon-may-have-common-origin/#comment-30294 DanS Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:21:33 +0000 http://habitablezone.org/?p=44127#comment-30294 The impact theory involves a strike by a rogue Mars-sized planet. The transfer of kinetic energy would have liquefied Earth and splashed a quantity of the magma into orbit, which would coalesce into the orb of our future moon. Any water would have to have been vaporized, but seemed to have remained within the splash itself, thereby mingling with the igneous stone. There are also thoughts that Earth-life may already have formed, only to have been annihilated with the impact. There is currently no known way to find any of this out for certain. An advanced civilization? Microbes? Simple sea life? Completely unknown. Incidentally, the Moon's rotation is currently tidally locked to the Earth's, so that one side faces it at all times. The Earth's rotation, though, is continuing to slow, until one day in the far-flung future, possibly before our sun becomes a dying red giant, planet and moon will be locked to face each other. Fascinating dynamics. The impact theory involves a strike by a rogue Mars-sized planet. The transfer of kinetic energy would have liquefied Earth and splashed a quantity of the magma into orbit, which would coalesce into the orb of our future moon. Any water would have to have been vaporized, but seemed to have remained within the splash itself, thereby mingling with the igneous stone.

There are also thoughts that Earth-life may already have formed, only to have been annihilated with the impact. There is currently no known way to find any of this out for certain.

An advanced civilization?
Microbes?
Simple sea life?
Completely unknown.

Incidentally, the Moon’s rotation is currently tidally locked to the Earth’s, so that one side faces it at all times. The Earth’s rotation, though, is continuing to slow, until one day in the far-flung future, possibly before our sun becomes a dying red giant, planet and moon will be locked to face each other.

Fascinating dynamics.

]]> By: FrankC https://habitablezone.com/2014/04/02/water-on-earth-and-moon-may-have-common-origin/#comment-30291 FrankC Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:28:35 +0000 http://habitablezone.org/?p=44127#comment-30291 I have always assumed that Moon water was a result of ice in meteor impacts. I reckon if water can survive those impacts, it could survive the impact that formed the moon. I have always thought that the moon was formed from a molten mass, but nothing is perfect. I suppose there could have been water ice in any rocks that survived and coalesced. I have always assumed that Moon water was a result of ice in meteor impacts.

I reckon if water can survive those impacts, it could survive the impact that formed the moon. I have always thought that the moon was formed from a molten mass, but nothing is perfect. I suppose there could have been water ice in any rocks that survived and coalesced.

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