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| | For ten years after the lunar landings, atheistic scientists lacked any accepted theory about the [[Moon]]'s origin. In 1984, an international meeting was convened in Kona, [[Hawaii]], for the purpose of agreeing on a new theory for the origin of the [[Moon]].<ref>''Id.''</ref> The attendees at the meeting agreed upon the following "giant-impact model," which was first proposed in 1975 but which had not yet been generally accepted.<ref>''Id.''</ref> | | For ten years after the lunar landings, atheistic scientists lacked any accepted theory about the [[Moon]]'s origin. In 1984, an international meeting was convened in Kona, [[Hawaii]], for the purpose of agreeing on a new theory for the origin of the [[Moon]].<ref>''Id.''</ref> The attendees at the meeting agreed upon the following "giant-impact model," which was first proposed in 1975 but which had not yet been generally accepted.<ref>''Id.''</ref> |
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| − | This theory proposes an impact with a large planetesimal (asteroid-like body) released a great quantity of debris into orbit, a portion of which collected under the influence of gravity. There is no direct evidence for this theory. It is supported by atheistic scientists, however, because only it might explain the following: | + | This theory proposes an impact with a large planetesimal (asteroid-like body) released a great quantity of debris into orbit, a portion of which collected under the influence of gravity. There is no direct evidence for this theory. It is supported by [[atheistic]] scientists, however, primarily due to lack of any alternative explanation for them. They try to fit the observations to this theory as follows: |
| − | **The lack of [[iron]], provided the impact of the planetesimal happened relatively late in the earth's formation and after the [[Earth]]'s [[iron]] had sunk towards its core. In that manner the [[Moon]] might have picked up mantle from the Earth that has less [[iron]]. Most of the planetesimal itself would have sunk into the earth's core.
| + | :*The lack of [[iron]], provided the impact of the planetesimal happened relatively late in the earth's formation and after the [[Earth]]'s [[iron]] had sunk towards its core. In that manner the [[Moon]] might possibly have picked up mantle from the Earth that has less [[iron]]. Most of the planetesimal itself would have sunk into the earth's core. |
| − | **The similar oxygen isotope composition between the [[Moon]] and [[Earth]] could be explained by such a collision, provided the Moon were then formed from debris dislodged from the [[Earth]] by the collision.
| + | :*The similar oxygen isotope composition between the [[Moon]] and [[Earth]] could possibly be explained by such a collision, provided the [[Moon]] were then formed from debris dislodged from the [[Earth]] by the collision. |
| − | **A high-velocity collision might be sufficient to release enough energy to place a substantial mass of the Earth's crust into orbit.
| + | :*A high-velocity collision might be sufficient to release enough energy to place a substantial mass of the [[Earth]]'s crust into orbit. |
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| | == Criticism of the Giant-Impact Model == | | == Criticism of the Giant-Impact Model == |