Valeska Molina Molina

August 28th, 2019

 Introduction

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/astr
onomy/multiple-moonlets-maketh-mystery
 Aims

“To investigate the multiple impact hypothesis

by examining the dynamics of multiple
moonlet systems”
Results

indicates that impactors of mass ≤ 0.05 or 0.1 Me are not large

enough to cause significant disruption during collisions or close
Results

In systems in which
both moonlets were
prograde, the
probability of outer
moonlet survival
increased with outer
moonlet mass and
System that contains a initial semi-major axis
prograde and
retrograde mmonlet
were far more prone
to be destroyed
Results

The merger
probability and
system survival
probability are
higher when the
moonlets have
more similar
inclinations
For merger, the
average merging
impact velocity
was 1.9km/s
Conclusions
Thank
´s!!
Results
Methods
"Standard" Impact Theory.  The impactor is commonly called
"Twin Collision" theory
"Theia", the mother of Selene in Greek mythology.

 "Synestia" theory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant-impact_hypothesis
http://www.radio-science.net/2017/08/lunar-origins.html
• The Earth-Moon system’s high angular momentum - satisfied by the combination of the early-Earth and
impactor’s mass and rotational velocity, as well as, the impact velocity and off-centre collision.
• The Moon’s depletion in iron - caused by the ejection of mostly mantle material from the early-Earth.
• The accretion of very hot material from the impact would generate a body of molten material, satisfying the
constraint that the initial stages of the Moon had to be a magma ocean in order to derive the predominantly
anorthosite crust we observe today.
• The Earth and Moon’s oxygen isotopic signature similarity, suggests they formed from similar material, which
is satisfied by the mixing that would occur during a giant impact.
• Earth’s current obliquity (axial tilt) - caused by the large-scale off-centre impact knocking the Earth over slightly.
• The Moon’s depletion in volatiles (elements that easily evaporate into gases) - due to volatile escape under the
high energies and temperatures of the giant collision.
• The Moon’s enrichment in refractory elements – due to these elements preferentially condensing into dust
under the high temperatures of the collision, to later accrete to form the Moon.