The Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth and is the brightest object in the night sky. Since ancient times, she has riveted the views of people and touched the most poetic strings in their souls. The influence of the moon on our planet is very great. The most striking example of this is the tides of the sea. They arise in connection with the gravitational attraction exerted by the Earth's satellite. In addition, since ancient times, people have used the lunar calendar. Throughout almost the entire history of mankind, it has been the main method not only for chronology, but also for orientation in daily affairs. Looking at the lunar calendar, our ancestors decided whether to start sowing or reaping, to organize fair festivities or not.
The all-powerful church was guided by the phases of the moon. According to the calendar, she announced various religious holidays and Lent. For hundreds of years, people have been arguing about the origin of the moon. But, despite the rapid development of scientific thought, a huge number of unresolved questions about our only satellite still remained unanswered.
What is the actual origin of the moon? Hypotheses that allow at least somehow approaching thisanswers are both scientific in nature and are simply fantastic assumptions.
Folk legend
There is a legend about the origin of the moon. According to her, in ancient times, when even Time itself was young, a girl lived on our planet. She was so beautiful that everyone who saw her was simply breathtaking.
In those years, people did not know what anger and hatred were. Only harmony, mutual understanding and love reigned on Earth. Even God was pleased to contemplate the World he created. This went on for years, which turned into centuries. The planet looked like a blossoming fairy tale, and it seemed that nothing could overshadow such a beautiful picture.
However, over the years, basking in the rays of her own success and beauty, the girl changed her modest lifestyle to a wild one. At night, she began to seduce the most beautiful men on the planet, illuminating the darkness with a bright glow. Her behavior became known to God.
He punished the harlot by sending her to the sky. After that, the moon girl began to illuminate the beautiful planet with her captivating and pure glow. People began to take to the streets at night to admire the unique beauty pouring from the sky. This gentle light lit up in the hearts of young men and women, bringing warmth to the soul. Thus, the moon took people's peace of mind. They could no longer sleep at night and fell into her gentle trap. The moon gave them the most inexplicable feelings, forcing the hearts of earthlings to beat to the beat of mysterious thoughts and fabulous love.
Selena
What's it likeorigin of the name Luna? For example, if we mean a name, then it has Greek roots. In this language, the word "selas" means "brilliance", "light", "radiant". Hence the name Luna.
The meaning and origin of Selena is shrouded in myths. In some of them, she is a hero associated with the Sun. If we take the works of Aeschylus, then in them Selena is the daughter of Helios. According to other sources, she is his wife or sister. There are myths that say that Selena is the daughter of the titan Paplant and the sister of Nikta. In other words, versions of ancient legends diverge. The names of Selena also differ in them. In some myths, she is Hyperilla, Ifianassa, Neida or Chromia.
The usual image of Selena is a winged woman dressed in silver clothes, on whose head is a golden wreath. She is the head of the night sky and moves through it on her chariot, which is harnessed by white winged buffaloes, bulls or horses.
The origin of the name Luna is also among the Slavs. In Latin it is a rune, and in French it is lime. These words have an ancient Indo-European root that means "light" or "luxury".
In the common Slavic language, the meaning of the name Luna is very similar to all previous versions. The origin of the word in this case can be explained by such a name for the luminary as louksna. Translated, it means "brilliant" and "light".
Main mysteries of the Earth's satellite
After a scrupulous analysis of the physical qualities of our neighbor, many details allow us to express an opinion in favor of the fact that the artificial origin of the Moon is still very likely. From oneOn the other hand, this theory seems absurd, but on the other hand, it rests on eight postulates, the analysis of which makes it possible to reveal the curious characteristics of this satellite.
And it is no coincidence that this theory of the origin of the Moon, which was put forward in 1960 by Russian researchers Mikhail Vasin and Alexander Shcherbakov, did not cease to interest their colleagues in the future. Supporters of the hypothesis of the artificial origin of the Earth's satellite are of the opinion that it was once attracted by the gravitational field of our planet. The moon, in their opinion, could have been towed by someone. And this is quite likely. The chance of Earth capturing the moon is practically zero. After all, our planet is not so large in size compared to its current satellite.
The comet theory of the origin of the Moon is also not able to withstand criticism. After all, all cosmic bodies carry a large amount of volatile substances. However, there are practically none on the Moon. Therefore, it is clearly not of cosmic origin. According to some researchers, the Moon is nothing more than an alien ship.
Riddle 1. Mass ratio
If we compare the Moon with other planets in our solar system, it stands out with some anomalous characteristics. For example, the ratio of the masses and sizes of the Moon and the Earth is unusually low. So, the diameter of our planet is four times the same parameter of its satellite. Jupiter, for example, has a value of eighty.
Another interesting detail isdistance between earth and moon. It is relatively small. In this regard, in terms of its visual dimensions, the Moon coincides with the Sun. This is confirmed by such phenomena as eclipses of our nearest star, when the Earth's satellite completely covers the celestial body.
Anomalous for researchers is the perfectly round orbit of the Moon. Other satellites of the solar system rotate in an elliptical path.
Riddle 2. Gravity center
Researchers also note the unusual deviation of the moon. The gravitational center of this satellite is 1800 meters closer than its geometric center. It can also prove the artificial origin of the Moon. The version of why the satellite of our planet, with such a significant discrepancy, still rotates in a circular orbit, simply does not exist.
Riddle 3 Titanium surface
Looking at a photo of the moon, many are sure that they see craters on its surface. However, in the absence of an atmosphere, the planet does not seem to be very "beaten" by space bodies falling on it.
Moreover, lunar craters are so small compared to their circumference that it looks like meteorite fragments hit extremely hard material. Shcherbakov and Vasin suggested that the lunar surface is made of titanium. This version has been verified. As a result of the data obtained, it can be concluded that the lunar crust has extraordinary properties of titanium to a depth of almost 32 km.
Riddle 4. Oceans
The artificial origin of the Moon is also proved by giant extensions located on its surface, called oceans. Many researchers believe that this is nothing more than traces of solidified lava that emerged from the bowels of the planet after the impact of meteorites. Although all this can only be explained by volcanic activity.
Riddle 5. Gravity
The theory of the origin of the Moon as an artificial body is also confirmed by the presence of a non-uniform gravitational attraction on this planet. This was confirmed by the Apollo VIII crew. The astronauts noted sharp anomalies in gravity, which in some places mysteriously increases significantly.
Riddle 6. Craters, oceans, mountains
On the far side of the Moon, which is not visible from Earth, scientists have discovered a large number of craters, geographic upheavals and mountains. However, we can only see the oceans. Such a gravitational discrepancy also allows one to put forward a version that the moon has an artificial origin.
Riddle 7 Density
The density of the moon is extremely low. Its value is only 60% of the density of our planet. According to the existing laws of physics, in this case, the Moon should simply be hollow. And this is with the relative rigidity of its surface. This is another argument justifying the artificial origin of the Moon.
Scientists have other hypotheses on this score, which together are the eighth postulate. Let's take a closer look at them.
Matter Separation
The story of the origin of the moon has worried people at all times. The first is quitethe logical explanation for the appearance of this satellite near our planet was given in the 19th century. George Darwin. He was the son of Charles Darwin, who proposed the theory of natural selection.
George was a very authoritative and well-known astronomer who spent a lot of time studying the celestial satellite of our planet. In 1878, he put forward a version that the origin of the Moon was the result of the separation of matter. Most likely, George Darwin became the first researcher who established the fact that our celestial satellite is gradually moving away from the Earth. Calculating the speed of the divergence of the planets, the astronomer suggested that in former times they formed a single whole.
In the distant past, the Earth was a viscous matter and rotated around its axis in just 5.5 hours. This led to the fact that centrifugal forces "pulled out" part of the substance from the planet. Over time, the moon was formed from this piece. The Pacific Ocean appeared on Earth at the place of separation.
This origin of the planet Moon was quite reasonable. As a result, the version of J. Darwin occupied a dominant position at the beginning of the 20th century. The theory perfectly explained the similarity of the composition of the lunar and terrestrial rocks, the lower density of the satellite of our planet and its size.
However, Harold Jeffreys criticized this version in 1920. This British astronomer proved that the viscosity of our planet in a semi-molten state could not contribute to such a powerful vibration as to lead to the appearance of two planets. Against the fact that this was the origin of the moon, hypotheses were put forward by others.researchers. After all, it became incomprehensible what laws and phenomena allowed the Earth to accelerate so quickly, and then sharply reduce the speed of its orbit. In addition, it has been proven that the age of the Pacific Ocean is about 70 million years. And this is too little to accept the scenario proposed by J. Darwin for the emergence of a celestial satellite.
Capture the planet
How else was the origin of the moon explained? Versions were different, but the most explainable of them was the hypothesis that came out in 1909 from the pen of Thomas Jefferson Jackson Oi. This American astronomer suggested that in earlier times the Moon was a small planet in the solar system. However, gradually, under the influence of the gravitational forces acting on it, its orbit acquired the shape of an ellipse and intersected with the orbit of the Earth. Then our planet, with the help of gravity, “captured” it. As a result, the Moon moved into a new orbit and became a satellite.
This hypothesis is confirmed by a rather high angular momentum. In addition, this version is supported by the myths of the ancient peoples, which state that there were times when the Moon did not exist at all.
However, such a scenario is unlikely to have taken place. When a small planet passes near the Earth, the gravitational forces acting on the cosmic body would rather destroy it or throw it far enough away. This theory is counterbalanced by the fact that the lunar and earth surfaces have a certain similarity.
Joint Formation
This hypothesis was the main one in the Soviet scientific world. It was first voiced in the works of Kantback in 1775. According to this version, both planets formed from a single gas and dust cloud. In this plume, the proto-Earth was born, which gradually gained a large mass. As a result, particles of the cloud began to rotate around our planet, adhering to their own orbits. Some of them fell on the still not fully formed Earth and enlarged it. Others took circular orbits and, being at the same distance from our planet, formed the Moon.
This hypothesis is fully explained by the fact that the Earth and the Moon have the same age, similar rocks and much more. However, the origin of such a high angular momentum and atypical inclination of the orbital plane of our satellite is unknown. It also seems strange that the planets formed at the same time have different ratios of the mass of the core and shells, and the reason for the disappearance of light elements from the celestial satellite is also unknown.
Evaporation of matter
This hypothesis was put forward by researchers at the beginning of the 20th century. According to this version, under the influence of constant contact with the Earth's surface of cosmic particles, its surface was subjected to strong heating. There was a melting of the substance, which soon began to evaporate. Further, the effect of blowing out light elements by the solar wind began. Heavier particles eventually went through the process of condensation. This happened at some distance from the Earth, where the Moon was formed.
This version explains well the small core of the celestial satellite, the similarity of the rocks of the two planets, as well as the low amount of volatiles present on itlight elements. However, how to explain the high angular momentum in this case? In addition, it is already known that the Earth was not subjected to heating. Therefore, there was simply nothing to evaporate.
Megaimpact
All theories about the origin of the Moon that existed before the mid-1970s, for one reason or another, could not be fully confirmed. At the same time, an almost unthinkable situation developed when the researchers simply could not answer the question about the origin of our only satellite. This uncertainty was the main impetus for the birth of the new version.
A relatively young hypothesis of the origin of the Moon is the collision theory. It appeared in 1975, and is currently considered the main one. According to this version, the origin of the Moon and the Earth took place in those distant times, when the solar system itself arose from a gas and dust cloud. At the same time, it turned out that at the same distance from the celestial luminary, two planets were formed at once, which ended up in the same orbit. One of them is the young Earth. The other was the planet Theia. Both celestial bodies gradually grew. Further, their masses became so palpable that the planets began to gradually approach each other. Theia was smaller than the Earth, and therefore began to be attracted to a heavier neighbor. According to researchers, the fatal meeting took place 4.5 billion years ago. Theia collided with the Earth. The blow was strong, but it happened on a tangent. At the same time, the earth seemed to be turned inside out. Part of the mantle of our planet "splashed out" into the near-Earth orbit andmost of Thaya. This substance became the germ of the future Moon, the final formation of which took place about a hundred years after this collision. Upon impact, the Earth received a large angular momentum.
The hypothesis explains both the small lunar core and the similarity of the rocks of the two planets. However, it is not entirely clear why the final evaporation of light elements, which, albeit in small quantities, are present in the lunar crust, did not occur.
Documentary Facts
All materials about the Moon that are widely available are far from exhaustive information. What secrets does this planet hold? What is the origin of the moon? The documentary film, which tells about the phenomena taking place on the satellite of our planet, immediately interested the audience. It was released under the title Sensation of the century. Moon. Hiding facts. It tells that mysterious and inexplicable phenomena occur on this cosmic body. And this is confirmed by the evidence of astronomers. Especially often on the Moon, researchers see wandering and stationary lights, bright sudden flashes, light from the craters of extinct volcanoes and incomprehensible rays that cut through the recesses of the lunar surface.
Also, according to many scientists, the Americans did not land on the surface of this celestial body at all. And if they landed, then the materials presented in the public domain are an outright fake. The reason for this disbelief lies in the fact that the missions carried out did not go as it was originally intended. ExceptIn addition, the astronauts who were once on the Moon, somewhat later and only in personal conversations, claimed that all their actions were continuously monitored. It was carried out from unidentified flying objects constantly circling around the ship.
This fully explains the artificial origin of the Earth's satellite and the version that the Moon is an alien ship. The theory of a possibly hollow planet inside also finds its explanation.
