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You are here: Home / Space / Where Did the Moon Come From, How Did Earth Get Its Only Satellite, and How Long Ago Was the Moon Created?

Where Did the Moon Come From, How Did Earth Get Its Only Satellite, and How Long Ago Was the Moon Created?

May 30, 2020 by Karen Hill

There are many theories about how the Moon formed.

The current favorite says that a huge asteroid, maybe the same one that is thought to have tilted Earth’s axis, hit Earth, throwing off a mass of debris into a broken ring around the planet.

Over time, the debris coalesced, creating the Moon.

At first the Moon was much closer to Earth, but it gradually settled in the orbit it has today.

The Moon is the only natural satellite the earth has and is also the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System.

It is currently believed that the moon formed some 4.5 billion years ago, around the same time the Earth was created.

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  • When Did the United States Launch Its First Satellite Into Space and Who Designed the Satellite Explorer 1?
  • When Was Sputnik Launched Into Orbit By the USSR and How Long Did the First Satellite Orbit the Earth?
  • How Does the Moon Affect Life On Earth and How Does the Moon Cause Tides On Earth With Its Gravitational Pull?
  • Why Do the Phases of the Moon Take Longer Than One Moon Orbit and How Often Does the Moon Orbit the Earth?
  • How Did Earth Get its Name and Why Is it the Only Planet Not Named After Greek or Roman Mythology?

Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Why Does the Moon Appear To Be Smaller When It Is Higher In the Sky and What Causes the Optical Illusion?
Next Post: What Is the Sister Theory of the Moon’s Formation and When Did We Discover That the Theory Was Unfeasible? »

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