Where do recent studies suggest Theia originated within the solar system?
Answer
Inner solar system
While early versions of the Giant Impact Hypothesis allowed for Theia to have formed farther out and subsequently migrated inward, modern geochemical analysis imposes stricter constraints on its origin. Researchers have examined the isotopic composition, specifically the ratios found in Earth’s mantle rocks today. The high degree of chemical similarity between the Earth and the material that formed the Moon suggests that Theia must have formed in an environment similar to Earth's—near the Sun’s current orbital path. If Theia had formed much farther away, volatile elements and other chemical signatures would likely show greater discrepancies from terrestrial composition.
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