4.5-Billion Year History Of Moon Packed Into 3-Minutes

NASA released this CG reconstruction of the (currently believed) history of the moon to celebrate 1,000 days of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter circling the satellite. It was pretty interesting to watch, but definitely could have used more aliens (I counted, there were zero).

According to current thinking, the Moon itself formed after a planet roughly the size of Mars slammed into the Earth at a glancing blow. This colossal impact threw billions of gigatons of debris into space. Some of that fell back onto Earth, and some formed a huge disk around the (now once again liquefied) planet. This material eventually coalesced to form the Moon.

But the story wasn't done: with impact after impact, wave after wave of bombarding material shaped and reshaped the Moon's surface.

Whoa, I didn't know that's where the moon came from. Or, I should say, I didn't know that's where scientists thought the moon came from. Because you and I both know a wizard put it there to keep the oceans in check so Poseidon couldn't extend his reach onto land. Nice try, NASA!

Hit the jump for billions of years of getting hit with space-rocks.

The Moon's history of violence [discovery]

Thanks to chromageddon and Li, who don't care where the moon came they just want to blow it up and collect all the cheese.

• The Size Of The Moon Compared To The United States

  February 14, 2013

  This is a picture created by Redditor boredboarder8 of the moon with a to-scale United States superimposed over it to give you a concept of its size. That is, if you can imagine how big the United States is. Which, given the fact you just poked yourself in the eye with a drin... / Continue →
• It Took Way Longer IRL: History Of Earth In 90 Seconds

  November 2, 2012

  This is a video showing the history of earth from big bang to current day, all in a minute and a half video. In real life it took almost 10,000 times that long though -- maybe even 100,000. "You're an idiot." I have never passed a math class. The video was created using foo... / Continue →
• Scientists: "Butt-Ton Of Water On The Moon"

  October 22, 2010

  Some would argue scientists wouldn't use terminology like butt-ton, but those people are wrong and obviously don't know any scientists personally. They're regular people just like you and me except they make love with lab coats and safety goggles on. So yeah, apparently there... / Continue →