What evidence suggests the Moon formed from a final, violent impact involving Earth and another large protoplanet?
Answer
The Moon's existence as a strong indicator of a massive impact phase
The architecture of the solar system today, including the highly differentiated structures observed in asteroids and the cratered surfaces of the inner worlds, points back to the chaotic protoplanet stage. Specifically concerning Earth's satellite, the existence of the Moon serves as powerful evidence for the final, violent clearing process that characterized the late stages of inner solar system formation. This process involved collisions between the few remaining large protoplanets that had not yet achieved full orbital dominance, with Earth undergoing a massive impact event that resulted in the formation of the Moon.
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