Theories of Lunar Formation

Lunar formation theories explore how the Moon came to be. The most supported idea, called the giant impact hypothesis, suggests that a Mars-sized body collided with Earth early in its history. The debris from this collision, mostly molten rock, eventually coalesced to form the Moon. Other theories include the moons forming separately near Earth’s orbit or being captured by Earth's gravity. However, evidence strongly favors the giant impact scenario because it explains the Moon's size, composition, and orbit accurately. These theories help us understand Earth's origins and the dynamic processes in our solar system.