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According to the Giant Impact Theory, the Moon was formed when a Mars sized protoplanet Theia collided with the proto-Earth Tellus, which also created today's Earth.

Tellus-Theia Collision Web Pages[]

Classification[]

  • Hadean Eon (4.54 (or 4.4)-4.00 BYA) - Eon on Earth before solid land took form, essentially molton, before the earliest preserved rocks. A proposed beginning would be the impact that formed the Moon. It is believed there was no life during this time period, or, if there was, it would have lasted long and would have to reinvent itself.
    • Paleohadean Era (4.5-4.3 BYA) - Proposed first Era of the Hadean. Begins with the collision of Tellus and Theia that created the Earth and Moon, and ends at a set time of 4.3 BYA.
      • Jacobian Period (4.400-4.300 MYA) - Latter part of the proposed Paleohadean Era.
      • Hephaestan Period (4.500-4.400 BYA) - First part of the proposed Paleohadean Era. Began when the Theia collided with Tellus, forming the Earth and Moon. Ends at a fixed date in time of 4.4 BYA.
      • Event: Tellus-Theia Collision (4.5 BYA) - According to the Giant Impact Theory, the Moon was formed when a Mars sized protoplanet Theia collided with the proto-Earth Tellus, which also created today's Earth.
  • Chaotian Eon (4.68-4.5 BYA) - A proposed Eon marking the beginnings of Earth as a planet up until the collision that formed the Moon. A later 2012 proposal divided this Eon between the Hadean and Prechaotian Eons.
    • Neochaotian Era (4.567-4.500 BYA) - Later part of the proposed Chaotian. Begins when the Sun first emitted light and ends when Theia collided with Tellus, forming the Earth and Moon. Later proposed to be moved to the Hadean Eon as the Chaotian Era.
      • Titanomachean Period (4.560-4.500 BYA) - Era of planetary formation via protoplanet collision. Ended with the collision of Tellus and Theia, which formed the Earth and Moon.


Tellus-Theia Collision In the News[]

Isotopes From Theia Thought to Have Been Found on the Moon (2014)[]

Earth 60 MY Older Than Thought (2014)[]

Echoes of ancient Earth identified by scientists? (First 100MY of Earth's History, 2014)[]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140609113347.htm