Earth's Moon is Rare Oddball

How sure are we that the moon was ripped from earth?

Could it not have developed in the same area in space as a twin planet with the earth fortunate to attract the most material and water and that a big collision caused the two to move closer together?

Be it as it may I think a odd size moon with tides etc is a prerequisite for life as we know it.

Just curious.

As far as I'm aware the Moon and the Earth's ratio's of Oxygen Isotopes are too similar to be coincidental.

Wouldn't actually say that the moon was ripped from the earth more like splashed out of.

Water? I thought that the water that the Earth displays is from decay of minerals, And developed to be "free".

Jorrie, Jorriieee, JJooorrriiieeee Help.

How does the oxygen isotope ratio of Mars or Venus compares?

Should there be a noticeable difference at impact craters on the moon or for example the Vredefort dome in SA.

Does changes occur over time?

Sure some water developed. What is the chances of an external body of water also joining with earth?

Do we know enough, are we guessing or do we have an eye witness report?

I am not always this difficult but I don't think we know enough to be sure.

In another post the accepted diameter of the sun is doubted.

I'm not sure about the isotope ratios of Mars compared with those of Earth, but from what I've watched on the Science Channel it seems that the perverbial "they" have analyzed moon rocks and compared those to rocks found on Earth and come to some sort of conclusion. Will we ever really know for sure...probably not, but it seems to be the best guess anyone has right now. I think it's important that we all remember that that is exactly what science is...the best guess we have taking into account everything we think we know.

Hi Hendrik.

I agree with you! How have scientists worked out that the moon was ripped from earth all those years ago? We know that the moon has a large amount of a mineral called "Ilmenite", (Fe Ti O2) on it's surface, much more in fact that on the equivalent amount on a same size chunk on Earth.

I always dismiss theories unless proven, and this is one that I am very sceptical about. The reason there is water here on earth is becuse of volcano's and plate tectonics, there was a vast amount of volcano's here on earth many millions of years ago that spewed out water vapour, Co2 and sulphur, this acounts for the warming up of our planet, and it is still going on.

The moon is way to small a mass to keep any residual water on it's surface, water on the surface of the moon would just float off into space.

Spencer.

Earth's Moon is really not a Moon at all.

The Earth/Moon system acts more like a twin planet system, which rotates around a common centre of gravity.

I have seen the diagrams which show the "Moon" was formed after a Mars sized object struck the proto-Earth.

The jury is still out as to whether the "Moon" is really a moon of Earth.

I am with sparky on this one. Moon is not a real moon and should have been a planet just like us really. Something happened back then that made it get stuck in our gravitational field and not leave. I read quite a few reports about this theory and the evidence was very convincing although I could not link to it now as I refer to REAL books I am afraid.

Just on a similar but different not, did you guys know that the verdict on Pluto is the same as the moon but in reverse! They now seriously think that it should not be a planet but is really an escaped moon. That is just weird isn't it. Maybe we should have Pluto for a moon and the moon should be out there I would love a eyeball view of Pluto but alas my telescope isn't good enough for that.

Again, it looks that many people think the Moon is odd. I have written some time ago here about the strange thing of the so called "dark side of the Moon" (as the song's name, however).

As the NASA site is stating and also in Encyclopedia Britannica, the Moon is showing always a single "face" to the Earth (actually about 60% of the surface, because there is some oscillation). Things are complicated by the fact that the Earth is rotating around its own axis and by the fact (shown in this blog) that there is a common point (actually making an ellipse around the Sun) of rotation of the two bodies.

The problem remains: why? Is this normal, natural, or what? Are there other moons with similar behavior?

Yes, there are many moons about with similar characteristics - although few of them are attached to such small planets as the earth. Once you have a relatively modest-size satellite close to a larger planet everything else will follow as sure as tides are tidal.