Earth and Mars are different worlds...

[MeteorWayne]

"Scientists say Earth and Mars are different to the core<br />SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL NEWS RELEASE<br />Posted: June 28, 2007<br /><br />Research comparing silicon samples from Earth, meteorites and planetary materials, published in Nature (28th June 2007), provides new evidence that the Earth's core formed under very different conditions from those that existed on Mars. It also shows that the Earth and the Moon have the same silicon isotopic composition supporting the theory that atoms from the two mixed in the early stages of their development. <br /><br />This latest research which was carried out by scientists from Oxford University along with colleagues from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) compared silicon isotopes from rocks on Earth with samples from meteorites and other solar system materials. This is the first time that isotopes have been used in this way and it has opened up a new line of scientific investigation into how the Earth's core formed. "<br /><br /> Spaceflight Now...Nature Article link <br /><br />Nothing yet on SDC <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /><br /><br />They really need one of us to help keep up on things.....<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[kyle_baron]

<font color="yellow"><br />the Earth and the Moon have the same silicon isotopic composition supporting the theory that atoms from the two mixed in the early stages of their development. <br /></font><br /><br />Somewhat OT, but I have a question. Is the planetoid that struck the earth, and formed the moon, now part of the earth and moon system, or did it fly off into space? The bulk of the planetoid would be the moon, with the debris scattered within the earth and moon. I only hypothesis this, because at one time, both earth and moon were very close together.<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="4"><strong></strong></font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

The most recent hydrodynamic simulations suggest that the mantles of both earth and the impactor got well scrambled, so are pretty much shared; the bulk of it's core wound up in the earth mass, but the moon's core would be more from that object.<br /><br />The impact was close enough to the center of mass of the earth that the majority of both objects was retained within the earth-moon system.<br /><br />Some, of course did get splattered into space, but we kept most of it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[kyle_baron]

<img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> I always wondered what happened to that planetoid. Thanks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="4"><strong></strong></font></p> </div>

 

[dragon04]

"You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile".<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[dragon04]

I read that article yesterday. I hadn't ever considered the difference in silicate density. Of course, I wouldn't. I'm not a planetary scientist. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br /><br />I wonder if that infers that the hypothesized impactor is what made the difference between Earth and Mars, or whether it's just another piece descriptive evidence to explain the differences.<br /><br />From my meager understanding, Earth is far more massive compared to diameter than Mars. Is that some natural factor based on orbital distance, or because Earth got smacked by something really, really big, and really, really dense?<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em>"2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!".</em> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

My feeling is it's more the crapshoot of forming planetary systems. And of course, in our system with most of the solar system mass (other than the sun) being in Jupiter, in a nice relatively circular orbit, it had some influence on Mars' formation.<br />After all, it likely prevented a planet from forming in the asteroid belt due to it's gravity.<br />Mars is the next closest.<br /><br />But like I said, a lot of it seems to be the luck of the draw; what masses wind up at what distance in what orbits during the formation process, how bright, hot, and solar windy the star is at that time, how close you are to a super bright UV star that blasts away the material before or during planet formation (see pillars of creation), etc, etc, etc....<br /><br />Some times it comes up 04, sometimes it comes up 42 <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi all.<br /><br />Jupiter almost certainly stunted the growth of Mars, during the formative years.<br /><br />At least Mars was still far enough away from Jove to form into a proper planet.<br /><br />Many other objects were far less fortunate. Look at 1 Ceres, 2 Pallas & 4 Vesta.<br /><br />Three stillborn planets, as well as of course thousands of other asteroids.<br /><br />I think that this also had a bearing of how much heavier materials Mars was able to<br />accumulate.<br /><br />The average density of the three inner planets<br />(Mercury, Venus & Earth) is 5.5 grammes per cubic centimetre.<br /><br />Mars is about 3.9 grammes per cubic centimetre. This is much closer to our Moon's (3.4 grammes <br />per cubic centimetre) & the Jupiter moons Io (3.6 grammes per cubic centimetre) & <br />Europa (3.1 grammes per cubic centimetre).<br /><br />I think that this is more than just a co-incidinece.<br /><br />IMO this means that under the surface, Mars, Moon, Io & Europa may not be that different chemically.<br /><br />Thanks MeteorWayne for finding & posting this article.<br /><br />Very interesting indeed.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[symbolite]

We should somehow cause 2 Pallas and 4 Vesta to crash into 1 Ceres to make it bigger. Nah, what would be the point... lol. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Boris_Badenov]

We don't know what all the aftereffects would be. A chunk just 1/4 mile wide that targets Earth after the collisions would really ruin my day.<img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> Anything bigger would be a real bummer. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#993300"><span class="body"><font size="2" color="#3366ff"><div align="center">. </div><div align="center">Never roll in the mud with a pig. You'll both get dirty & the pig likes it.</div></font></span></font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

That's true, a concentrated mass of that size might disrupt parts of the Asteroid belt leading to the CHB (Current Heavy Bombardment).<br /><br />That would be bad <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

I agree, the effects of of suddenly increasing the mass of 1 Ceres by whacking 2 Pallas, <br />3 Juno, 4 Vesta, 5 Hygeia, 6 Hebe, etc would be disastrous. <br /><br />The mass distribution of the asteroid belt would be disrupted & yes, we could<br />expect another period of heavy bombardment.<br /><br />The asteroid that caused the KT impact, was considerably smaller than many <br />in the Asteroid Belt. Even those like 243 Ida & 951 Gaspra are still considerably larger. <br /><br />Bad idea.<br /><br />However even doing that, would not create a major planet!!!!<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Yes, it would still be a dwarf by IAU definition <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Hi MeteorWayne.<br /><br />Good afternoon.<br /><br />AFAIK, if the entire population of the Asteroid Belt were rammed into a sphere, that object would<br />still only have the mass of a quarter of the Moon.<br /><br />However that would be considerably more massive than Eirs or Pluto.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>