A new theory suggests that Earth may have had two moons in the distant past before one collided into the other, the BBC reports. The theory has been developed by several astronomers to explain why one side of the Moon, the one visible from Earth, is flat and cratered while the other has mountain ranges. The researchers say the second moon may have been formed when another large body the size of Mars collided with the Earth about four billion years ago, sending another chunk out into orbit. The smaller second moon orbited Earth before collided with the Moon. The report is published in the journal Nature. Scientists plan to test this theory by examining samples from probes NASA plans to send to the moon.
via skimthat.com
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