The Moon’s Long Lost Twin Found

International Business Times ^ | 8/11/2011 | International Business Times

[U-238]

The moon maybe palely alone in the night sky today but according to scientists it is possible that the there was a second, smaller moon 4.4 billion years ago.

A paper published in the journal Nature theorized that there was a smaller moon created in the same impact that created the moon. Astronomers, Martin Jutzi and Erik Asphaug of the University of California at Santa Cruz have long wondered why the moon had two incongruous sides, one smooth with flat plains and another side full of rugged mountains and craters.

The astronomers started thinking that the mountainous region had been added to a pre-existing surface. This theory follows the generally held belief that the moon was formed after a Mars-sized planetoid crashed into Earth to blast a cloud of debris into space that would eventually congeal into the moon. Smaller pieces could have formed at a Trojan point or a place in the same orbit as the moon but ahead or behind it.

The mini-Moon would eventually become gravitationally unstable and would fall back to the bigger Moon. Jutzi and Asphaug's computer simulations of the event show that the Moon's smaller twin wouldn't fall back to the moon in a fiery explosion but in gentle descent. Not with a bang but with a splat.

"Being slow, it does not form a crater, but splats material onto one side," Professor Asphaug said. The extra mini-Moon mass would account for the extra material on the far side of the moon.

The scenario also explains other features found in the moon including why the side facing Earth has so much lava. At the time of the impact the extra mass added to the other side of the moon could have moved the magma beneath the crust upwards to the near side of the

[Kenny Bunk]

The Bible, as any heathen fool can see, was written in plain English as spoke by the Baby Jesus. Appalachian English. Plain as day so's every man who could read could read it for hisself and not need some authority Pope-guy bishop to tell him what's in it. Of course, if anybody got a Bible question, it is my job to answer it correctly as inspired by the Holy Ghost.

Now if you will be so kind as to excuse me, I got some snakes to feed and to mix a fresh batch of poison for Sunday services, to which you are welcome with any Bible question.

[onedoug]

I rather think God would like us to figure out as much about His creation as possible.

[patton]

OK, I am out of this one - I made a mistake in offering a challenge to someone’s religious beliefs on this forum. Bad idea, I should not have done it.

Thanks for the laugh, though.

[presently no screen name]

I rather think God

We are told not to lean unto our own understanding. would like us to figure out as much about His creation as possible.

For what purpose? His Word doesn't say that. That's an 'feel good' excuse to do want you want. We are to KNOW HIM as much as possible.

[presently no screen name]

not need some authority Pope-guy bishop to tell him what's in it.

How do you know this 'authority' knows what they are talking about and not deceiving you? Making you believe what they want you to believe? Putting trust in 'man' is for the gullible.

to mix a fresh batch of poison for Sunday services

That may just be what your 'authority' is giving you disguised as Truth.

1 John 2:27 "As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in Him."

[Kenny Bunk]

Amen ping

[DH]

You have to realize that these “scientists and astrologers” are paid money to investigate such interesting theories and come up with answers.

In many cases, they do....and earn their money by GUESSING what happened. In all cases “EXPERTS” come up with answers because they are expected to. Right or wrong...they have saved their reputations and are the envy of their peers.

Eggs are bad for you...eggs are good for you. Milk is bad for you...milk is good for you. Beer is bad for you...beer is good for you and on and on and on.

If these people had to actually produce a tangible result, I would be amazed.

[bert]

You are cluttering up a good thread

[Moonman62]

This isn’t a dress rehearsal and one’s eternity can start at any moment. It isn’t rocket science where one should place their priorities.

I would think that knowledge would be a higher priority than ignorance.

[Moonman62]

Why don’t you give up all human progress and live as an animal as you were created?

[presently no screen name]

I would think that

Everyone's doing alot of thinking while we are told....

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;"

Isaiah 55:8
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.

Isaish 55:9
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

[MD Expat in PA]

You have to realize that these “scientists and astrologers” are paid money to investigate such interesting theories and come up with answers.

Astrologers?

In many cases, they do....and earn their money by GUESSING what happened. In all cases “EXPERTS” come up with answers because they are expected to. Right or wrong...they have saved their reputations and are the envy of their peers.

You really don’t have much understanding of how science works do you.

Eggs are bad for you...eggs are good for you. Milk is bad for you...milk is good for you. Beer is bad for you...beer is good for you and on and on and on.

Don’t conflate what passes for journalism now days, especially on scientific topics with actual scientific research and papers.

If these people had to actually produce a tangible result, I would be amazed.

Do you not consider the Moon landings a tangible result? What about advances in medicine? Are you not typing on a computer and posting over the internet?

[BigCinBigD]

My priorities are firmly rooted in reason and science. Not superstition. But I have no problem with those who do.

[MD Expat in PA]

Everyone's doing alot of thinking while we are told....

…that ignorance is bliss?

And I don’t think those quotes mean what you think they mean. Do you believe the LORD was telling his people to remain ignorant about how the physical world works? Do you think Newton should have kept his nose in the Bible and not thought about gravity? That Copernicus and Galileo should have not peered through their telescopes and were wrong for figuring out that the Biblical interpretations of their day were wrong about the Sun and planets revolving around the Earth? Do you believe that Edward Jenner should have believed that smallpox was just the will of God and not bothered to think and therefore develope a vaccine for it?

It saddens me that some people are ignorant of what scientific progress has done to improve the quality and quantity of their lives. Science does not have to be in opposition to religion and religion does not have to be in opposition to science.

[Moonman62]

Those are good quotes, but how do they justify your ignorance?

[campaignPete R-CT]

there is no use. You are in a Gump scene.

[the invisib1e hand]

Wow! Pink Floyd can tour again!

[the invisib1e hand]

Dude. Have you thanked God for gravity lately?

[CapnJack]

"It would seem a sample return mission to the dark side of the moon is in order,..."

All that you touch

All that you see

All that you taste

All that you feel

All that you love

All that you hate

All you distrust

All that you save

All that you give

All that you deal

All that you buy

beg, borrow or steal

All you create

All you destroy

All that you do

All that you say

All that you eat

everyone you meet

All that you slight

everyone you fight

All that is now

All that is gone

All that's to come

and everything under the sun is in tune

but the sun is eclipsed by the moon.

[FNU LNU]

Now that I know this, I can live a long and fruitful life. This changes everything..../sarc