Geological, Geochemical, and Theoretical Considerations of the Initial Lunar Thermal Condition and Implications for the Origin of the Moon

Details Geological, Geochemical, and Theoretical Considerations of the Initial Lunar Thermal Condition and Implications for the Origin of the Moon Geological, Geochemical, and Theoretical Considerations of the Initial Lunar Thermal Condition and Implications for the Origin of the Moon

Jan 1998

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1998lpico.957...37p&link_type=abstract

Origin of the Earth and Moon, Proceedings of the Conference held 1-3 December, 1998 in Monterey, California. LPI Contribution N

Mathematics

Logic

Geochemistry, Moon, Lunar Composition, Lunar Geology, Selenology, Lunar Temperature, Simulation, Lunar Environment, Thermal Simulation, Mathematical Models

Scientific paper

A successful model for the origin of the Moon must be consistent with the geological and geochemical evidence for the initial lunar thermal condition. On the basis of this criteria, the giant impact hypothesis cannot be termed successful, since current interpretation of some geologic and geochemical observations is that the interior of the Moon was initially below the solidus, while models of the giant impact appear likely to predict a molten interior. We have critically examined the uncertainties in these observations and models in an attempt to better understand the initial thermal state of the Moon. Recent simulations reveal that the ejecta placed in orbit around the Earth by a giant impact will accrete into a single moon in a few years. We have used a simple model to examine the thermal consequences of this fast accretion. Our model accounts for the accretional, radiative, and sensible energy of a growing proto-Moon, with phase-changes explicitly considered. We have found that if accretion of the Moon takes only a few years, the accretional energy will dominate all others, causing intense heating within the proto-Moon

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