Late Lunar Forming Impacts

Abstract

The giant impact hypothesis is the dominant theory explaining the formation of our Moon. However, its inability to produce an isotopically similar Earth-Moon system with correct angular momentum has cast a shadow on its validity. Computer-generated impacts have been successful in producing virtual systems that possess many of the physical properties we observe. Yet, addressing the isotopic similarities between the Earth and Moon coupled with correct angular momentum has proven to be challenging. Equilibration and evection resonance have been put forth as a means of reconciling the models. However, both were rejected in a meeting at The Royal Society in London. The main concern was that models were multi-staged and too complex. Here, we present initial impact conditions that produce an Earth-Moon system whose angular momentum and isotopic properties are correct. The model is straightforward and the results are a natural consequence of the impact.

Students

Justin Highland

Brett Hokr

Justin Eiland

Travis Salzillo

Jonathan Petz

Ty Turner

William Sumpter

Edward Smith

Baylor Fain

Taylor Hutyra

Aser Garcia

Eric Hall

Publications

Bryant M. Wyatt, Jonathan M. Petz, William J. Sumpter, Ty R. Turner, Edward L. Smith, Baylor G. Fain, Taylor J. Hutyra, Scott A. Cook, John H. Gresham, Michael F. Hibbs, Shaukat N. Goderya (2018). Creating an Isotopically Similar Earth-Moon System with Correct Angular Momentum from a Giant Impact. Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy, 39(2) 26:1-6.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12036-018-9515-8

Wyatt, B. M. (2014). Lunar-forming Giant Impact Model Utilizing Modern Graphics Processing Units. Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy, 35(4), 607-618.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12036-014-9306-9

Posters

Videos

Student Presentations

GPU Technology Conference 2018

San Jose, Ca, March 26-29 2018

Heliocentric Lunar Formation Impact Model – Aser Garcia, Eric Hall https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/gtc/poster-gallery/2018/hpc-and-supercomputing/

12th Annual Texas Oklahoma Research Undergraduate Symposium (TORUS)

Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas February 10, 2018

Heliocentric Lunar Formation Impact Model – Aser Garcia, Eric Hall

The Texas A&M University System 14th Annual Student Research Symposium

Stephenville, Texas November 2-3, 2017

Creating a Heliocentric Lunar Formation Impact Model – Aser Garcia, Eric Hall (Second place mathematics)

TSU COST Research Week Poster Session

Stephenville, Texas October 25, 2017

Creating a Heliocentric Lunar Formation Impact Model – Aser Garcia, Eric Hall (Second place overall)

13th Annual Texas Undergraduate Mathematics Conference

University of The Incarnate Word– San Antonio, Tx 10/20/2017 – 10/21/2017

Creating a Heliocentric Lunar Formation Impact Model – Aser Garcia, Eric Hall

Math Day 2017

Stephenville, Texas May 4 2017

Creating an isotopically similar Earth-Moon system with correct angular momentum from a giant Impact – William Sumpter, Ty Turner and Edward Smith (Third Place)
Heliocentric Lunar Formation Simulation – Aser Garcia and Eric Hall

97th Annual Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA

Texas A&M University Commerce– Commerce, Tx 3/30/2017 – 4/1/2017

Heliocentric Lunar Formation Simulation – Aser Garcia, Eric Hall
Creating an isotopically similar Earth-Moon system with correct angular momentum from a giant Impact – William Sumpter, Ty Turner, Edward Smith

229th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society

Grapevine, Texas 1/3-7/2017

Creating an Isotopically Similar Earth and Moon from a Giant Impact with Correct Angular Momentum – William Sumpter

The Texas A&M University System 13th Annual Student Research Symposium

Prairie View A&M University Prairie View, Texas 11/3-4/2016

Creating an Isotopically Similar Earth and Moon from a Giant Impact with Correct Angular Momentum – William Sumpter, Ty Turner, and Jonathan Petz (Second place physical sciences) (Third place overall)

15th Annual Tarleton State University Student Research Symposium

Stephenville, Texas October 27-28, 2016

Creating an Isotopically Similar Earth and Moon from a Giant Impact with Correct Angular Momentum – Jarred Sumpter and Ty Turner

Texas Astronomy Undergraduate Research Symposium 2016

Baylor University, Waco, Texas 9/9/2016

N-Body simulations of lunar forming giant impacts – Jarred Sumpter and Ty Turner

Math Day 2016

Stephenville, Texas April 28 2016

Angular Momentum Study of Late Lunar Forming Impacts Using NVIDIA GPUs – Johnathan Petz, Ty Turned, and William Sumpter

GPU Technology Conference 2016

San Jose, Ca, 4/4-7/2016

Angular Momentum Study of Late Lunar Forming Impacts Using NVIDIA GPUs – Jonathan Petz, Ty Turner, William Sumpter

96th Annual Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA

Stephen F. Austin University – Nacogdoches, Tx 3/31/2016 – 4/2/2016

Angular Momentum Study of Late Lunar Forming Impacts Using NVIDIA GPUs – Jonathan Petz, Ty Turner, William Sumpter

The Texas A&M University System 12th Annual Student Research Symposium

Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi 10/22-23/2015

Dialing in the Angular Momentum to Restore the Giant Impact Hypothesis – Jonathan Petz, Ty Turner, William Sumpter

14th Annual Tarleton State University Student Research Symposium

Tarleton State University 10/16/2015

Dialing in the Angular Momentum to Restore the Giant Impact Hypothesis – Jonathan Petz, Ty Turner, William Sumpter

13th Annual Tarleton State University Student Research Symposium

Tarleton State University 11/1/2014

Dialing in the Angular Momentum to restore the Giant Impact Hypothesis – Billy Fournier

GPU Technology Conference

San Jose, California 3/17-20/2014

Lunar-Forming Giant Impact Model Utilizing GPUs – Travis Salzillo and Will Mayfield

The Texas A&M University System 11th Annual Student Research Symposium

Texas A&M University—Kingsville 11/8/2013

N-Body Simulations of Late Lunar Forming Impacts -- Justin Eiland and Travis Salzillo (Best master’s poster out of 176 master posters presented. This was the largest session at the event)

12th Annual Tarleton State University Student Research Symposium

Tarleton State University 11/2/2013

N-Body Simulations of the Formation of the Earth-Moon System from a single Giant Impact – Justin Eiland and Travis Salzillo

93rd Texas Section Meeting of the Mathematical Association of America

Texas Tech University April 11-13 2013

N-Body Study of Late Lunar-Forming Impacts- Justin Eiland and Travis Salzillo (Best presented research paper)

Joint meeting of the Texas Sections of the American Physical Society, American Association of Physics Teachers, and Society of Physics Students Zone 13.

Tarleton State University April 4-6 2013

An N-Body Study of Late Lunar-Forming Impacts- Justin Eiland and Travis Salzillo

Sigma Xi SW Research Conference

University of Texas at Dallas 1/11-13/2013

N-Body Simulations of Late Lunar Forming Impact – Justin Eiland

11th Annual Tarleton State University Student Research Symposium

Tarleton State University 10/27/2012

N-Body Simulations of Late Lunar Forming Impact – Justin Eiland

10th Annual Tarleton State University Student Research Symposium

Tarleton State University 10/22/2011

N-Body Simulations of Late Lunar Forming Impact – Justin Highland

91st Annual Meeting Texas Section of the Mathematical Association of America

The University of Texas at Tyler 4/14-16/2011

N-Body Simulations of Late Lunar Forming Impact – Justin Highland, Brett Hokr

North Texas Undergraduate Research Symposium

University of North Texas Health Science Center 11/05/2010

N-body Particle-based simulation of Lunar-forming Collision – Justin Highland

9th Annual Tarleton State University Student Research Symposium

Tarleton State University 10/16/2010

N-body Particle-based simulation of Lunar-forming Collision – Justin Highland, and Brett Hokr