Accretion of the Moon from an Impact Generated Disk

Details Accretion of the Moon from an Impact Generated Disk Accretion of the Moon from an Impact Generated Disk

Mar 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996lpi....27..195c&link_type=abstract

Lunar and Planetary Science, volume 27, page 195

Computer Science

Accretion, Evolution: Tidal, Giant-Impact Hypothesis, Moon: Origin

Scientific paper

In a recent work, we presented the first numerical calcultions of accretion of an impact-generated protolunar disk into a single large Moon. Our calculations were based on the model developed by Canup and Esposito to describe accretion in the Roche zones around the giant planet. Previous numerical simulations of a large impact event predict the formation of a disk of material centered near or within the Roche limit (about 2.9R). A natural expectation based on results in and comparison with the satellite systems of the outer planets would be for multiple small moons to arise from such a protolunar disk. Multiple moonlets could accrete to form a single Moon if they evolved into crossing orbits due to tidal interaction with the Earth. This would occur if the innermost moonlet in the disk were also the most massive, so that it evolved outward at the relatively fastest rate and swept up all exterior material. The analysis in Canup and Esposito, which included both moonlet accretion and orbital evolution, demonstrates that forming massive moonlets in the inner disk near thc Roche limit is extremely difficult. An Earth system with multiple moons is the final result unless some particularly severe constraints on initial conditions in the disk are met. We found that a disk with a lunar mass of material exterior to about 3.5 - 4R or an extremely steep radial surface density profile at the onset of collisional growth is required for a single, lunar-sized body to result from accretion of silicate density material in a protolunar disk. The former corresponds most closely to disks produced by impactors with nearly twice the mass of Mars and about twice the angular momentum of the current Earth/Moon system.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Accretion of the Moon from an Impact Generated Disk does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Accretion of the Moon from an Impact Generated Disk, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Accretion of the Moon from an Impact Generated Disk will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1611357