GIANT IMPACT THEORY - Explanation for the origin of the Moon from Earth debris which collected in space after a projectile the size of planet Mars smashed into a growing Earth.
Giant Impact Theory - The theory of the origin of the Moon that holds that the Moon formed from debris blasted into orbit when the Earth was struck by a Mars-size body ...
The giant impact theory proposes that a large Mars-sized object hit the Earth and blew mantle material outward which later recoalesced to form the Moon.
The reasons why giant impact theory has become such a favorite is listed on p43 of this article --- for one, such a collision is a natural consequence of planet formation.
The leading theory of Moon's origin is the giant impact theory, which states that Earth was once hit by a planetoid the size of Mars; possibly the largest impact Earth has ever suffered.
Recent pre-historic impact events ...
For nearly a decade, the giant impact theory was not believed by most scientists. However, in 1984, a conference devoted to lunar origin prompted a critical comparison of the existing theories.
Carlson is confident that the team's findings strengthen the idea of a giant impact theory for the Moon's formation, however.
The most widely accepted theory of the Moon's origin, the giant impact theory, states that it formed from the collision of a Mars-size protoplanet called Theia with the early Earth.
unknown, but one popular theory has it that it was formed from the collision of a Mars-sized protoplanet into the early Earth. This theory explains (among other things) the Moon's relative lack of iron and volatile elements. See Giant impact theory.
 See also: Moon, Earth, Planet, Giant, Orbit
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