Formation of embryos of the Earth-Moon system as a result of a collision of two rarefied condensations

TL;DR

This paper proposes a model where the Earth-Moon system's formation resulted from a collision between two rarefied condensations, leading to embryo formation and angular momentum transfer.

Contribution

It introduces a collision-based formation scenario for Earth and Moon embryos from rarefied condensations with specific angular momentum considerations.

Findings

Earth-Moon angular momentum can originate from condensation collision

Embryos formed from contraction of condensations post-collision

Moon's mass acquired during solid body accumulation stage

Abstract

The angular momentum of the present Earth-Moon system could be acquired at the collision of two identical rarefied condensations with sizes of Hill spheres which total mass was about 0.1 of the mass of the Earth. Solid embryos of the Earth and the Moon could be originated as a result of contraction of the condensation formed at the collision. Depending on eccentricities of planetesimals that collided with solid embryos of the Earth and the Moon, the Moon could acquire 0.04-0.3 of its mass at the stage of accumulation of solid bodies while the mass of the growing Earth increased by a factor of ten.