Southwest Research Institute Moon Formation Simulation (VIDEO)

Southwest Research Institute

Caption

Southwest Research Institute: This simulation of a giant impact with the Earth shows an off-center, low-velocity collision of two protoplanets. Color scales indicate particle temperature in Kelvin, with blue-to-red indicating temperatures from 2,000 K to in excess of 6,440 K. After the initial impact, part of the impactor re-collides with the Earth, while other material is placed into a vapor-melt disk orbiting the Earth.

Credit

Credit: R. Canup, SwRI

Usage Restrictions

Credit: R. Canup, SwRI

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