Moon Formation
Scientists have analyzed 3.7-billion-year-old rocks from Western Australia to uncover details about the early Earth and the Moon's origins. The study indicates that Earth's continents began forming around 3.5 billion years ago, long after the planet itself emerged. Comparisons with Apollo mission samples support the theory of a massive cosmic collision birthing the Moon.
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Researchers have identified the likely chemical composition and birthplace of Theia, the protoplanet that collided with early Earth about 4.5 billion years ago to form the Moon. By analyzing isotope ratios in Earth and lunar rocks, the team traced Theia to the inner Solar System. The findings, published on November 20, 2025, in Science, suggest Theia formed closer to the Sun than Earth.