Changes

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>

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:

This theory proposes that 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 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 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 possibly 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.