Scientists claim that Earth once had two moons before the second "twin" moon collided with the one we see today to form one lunar body.
Scientists are fascinated with new discoveries and exploring the unknown. This curiosity has led to several discoveries in space, which would have been beyond imagination for mankind. Setting foot on the moon for the first time, exploring the Red planet or even finding Earth-like planets, which can support life are a few of the many successful achievements of humans. Now a new theory by Professor Erik Asphaug from the University of California at Santa Cruz claims that Earth had two moons only a few million years ago, before they collided to form the one we see today.
Professor Asphaug explains that the evidence of the so-called "twin" moon appears on the darker side of the moon, which is not visible from Earth and has mountainous landscapes. Moon's surface, which is visible to Earth, is smooth compared to its darker side. Professor Asphaug believes that these mountainous landscapes were formed millions of years ago when the smaller "twin" moon collided into the larger lunar body.
"It would have orbited Earth at the same speed and distance and just got slowly sucked in until they hit and then coalesced," he said, according to Sunday Times.
The "twin" moon, which is no longer in existence, is projected to be roughly one thirtieth the size of the larger body. The Earth and its moon formed between 30 million and 130 million years after the birth of the solar system, nearly 4.6 billion years ago, according to scientists.
Professor Asphaug will explain his theory at a conference about the moon to be held at the Royal Society in London this September.
