Searching for Theia, the mother of the Moon

The current preferred theory about how the Moon was formed is that early on in the solar system, an object the size of Mars, located nearly at the same distance from Sun as the Earth is now, impacted the Earth. It is believed that it was located at one of the Lagrangian points, L4 or L5 of the Earth, and then eventually spun in and hit it. The ejected material then became the Moon.

There are currently two spacecraft being sent to both of these locations, called STEREO. Their main mission is to observe the Sun from both sides, and provide stereoscopic pictures of stuff coming off the Sun (flares, CME's, etc.) heading towards Earth and other places. Since they will be parked at the same L4 & L5 Lagrangian points where it's believed Theia came from, they may also provide clues as to whether Theia actually existed.

NASA - STEREO Mission
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stereo/main/index.html

More about the Theia hypothesis:

Tom’s Astronomy Blog » Blog Archive » Hunting for Theia
http://tomsastroblog.com/?p=3271

iTWire - The Theia hypothesis goes STEREO
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/24366/1066/

NASA - STEREO Hunts for Remains of an Ancient Planet near Earth
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/09apr_theia.htm?list970856

Yousuf Khan
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Relevant Pages

  • Re: STEREO Hunts for Remains of an Ancient Planet near Earth
    ... STEREO Hunts for Remains of an Ancient Planet near Earth ... The "Theia hypothesis" is a brainchild of Princeton theorists Edward ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Two Eclipses, One Observed Only by NASA (Forwarded)
    ... STEREO and SOHO Project ... the Moon will pass into and out of the shadow of Earth. ... occurs during various stages of the eclipse. ... crossed the face of the Sun -- but it could not be seen from Earth. ...
    (sci.astro)
  • Two Eclipses, One Observed Only by NASA (Forwarded)
    ... STEREO and SOHO Project ... A total lunar eclipse, partly visible ... from every continent around the world, will occur on March 3 when the Moon ... crossed the face of the Sun -- but it could not be seen from Earth. ...
    (sci.space.news)
  • Re: Searching for Theia, the mother of the Moon
    ... the same distance from Sun as the Earth is now, ... Theia actually existed. ... NASA - STEREO Missionhttp://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stereo/main/index.html ...
    (sci.astro)
  • Stereo Eclipse
    ... the STEREO-B spacecraft and they pointed the instruments at the sun. ... STEREO eclipse movie ... The black disk is the Moon. ... When we observe a lunar transit from Earth, ...
    (sci.space.news)