So, the Earth-Moon system, without which the conditions for life would not exist, is even more unique than previously thought...
So, the Earth-Moon system, without which the conditions for life would not exist, is even more unique than previously thought...
~~~
Also consider that if the theory is true, and it never happened, the planet that was earth could be more of a colder rocky type planet. The collision unsettled the whole crust and caused it to become geologically active later than it otherwise would have.
Actually this has been the dominant theory for the moons formation for quite a long time now.
Also the moon was at one point two different moons, where the second moon eventually collided with the first, sort of smearing itself across half the other, creating the moon today, explaining why the earths surface makeup is so different on differing sides.
The earth/moon system is unique, at least within our solar system. Our moon is just insanely large relative to the planets size. No other planet in this system can compare… not sure if they have sound examples similar in other solar systems yet, but it is clearly a rare occurrence to have a planet with such a massive moon relative to the planets size. Only Jupiter and Saturn have moons as large or larger than the earths moon.
This of course helps explain some of the rather unique features of earth, probably the most notable being the stable 23 degree procession, without that life on earth anyway would likely have been very very different. Etc etc.