For impact, see Giant impact hypothesis.
Theia is a hypothesized ancient planetary-mass object in the early Solar System that, according to the giant impact hypothesis, collided with the early Earth around 4.5 billion years ago. According to the hypothesis, Theia was an Earth trojan about the size of Mars, with diameter of about 6,102 km (3,791.61 miles). Geologist Edward Young of the University of California, Los Angeles, drawing on an analysis of rocks collected by Apollo missions 12, 15, and 17, proposes that Theia collided head-on with Earth, in contrast to the previous theory that suggested a glancing impact. Models of the impact indicate that Theia's debris gathered around Earth to form The Moon
Formation[]
Not much is known about Theia's formation as a planet. However, it is largely guessed that Theia was one of the last planets to be formed, given Theia being around the size of Mars. It is assumed that Theia was heavily bombarded with asteroids that contained water, as prior to Theia's impact on Earth, it is likely that Earth had only 70% of it's modern-day water, meaning that Theia held a large amount of water that hadn't been liquified during the collision.
Orbit[]
Theia's orbit was a trojan of Earth, meaning it held the same orbit with Earth. However, it is likely that Venus's gravitational perturbations is what destabilized Theia's orbit, which orbited in the L4 or L5 configuration, is what caused the collision between Earth and Theia.
Collision[]
The planet, which lasted around 20-100 million years, met its end after it collided with Earth. The collision was head-on, after the collision, large remnants of Theia blasted into space, in which soon turned into a ring around the Earth. Theian and Earthly asteroids soon collided together to form the Moon. The Earth's axis was also minorly affected by the collision, but more majorly affected by the creation of the Moon, which followed soon after the collision itself. The Earth and Theia likely were brown and were both cooling, Theia was likely more cooled than the Earth, and Theia was likely already finished with its formation during the collision. Theia possibly collided where the Pacific is centered today.
Remnants[]
On the Earth and around it remains pieces of Theia from the collision which occurred 2.5 billion years ago. Pieces and parts of the Moon are likely remnants of Theia, along with the Moon having remnants from Theia, there have been remnants of Theia detected in the Earth. ASU scientists have determined that there are Theian remnants on two sides of the Earth, the Pacific and Africa. These remnants have remained in the Earth due to Theian material being unable to fully fuse to the Earth's crust. Which Theian remnants remain miles and miles down into the earth's innards.
Trivia[]
- Theia has been widely regarded as the object that formed the moon.
- Theia was most likely an Earth trojan, before colliding with Earth.
- Theia's page has been the subject of being vandalized by Fandom Users, who are disliked by most contributors of The Solar System Wiki.
- Note: We don't condone Witch-hunting, as it is something that can get incredibly out of control, and is something that everyone shouldn't participate in.
Gallery[]
| Hypothetical Bodies in the Solar System | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hypothetical Planets | Inner Solar System | Vulcan • Counter-Earth • Nibiru • Theia • Phaeton • Enyo and Bellona • Krypton |
| Outer Solar System | Fifth Giant • Unnamed ancient Super-earth • Triton’s Binary Partner • Planet 9 • Planet 10 • Tyche • Nemesis | |
| Hypothetical Moons | Inner Solar System | Disproven Moons of Mercury • Neith • Petit's moon • Waltemath's moons • Moons of Pallas • Moon of Hebe |
| Outer Solar System | Chiron • Chrysalis • Themis • Sedna I • Varuna I • Herschel's Moons | |
| Other Hypothetical Objects | Hypothetical Regions | Vulcanoid Belt • Hills Cloud • Oort Cloud |
| Hypotheses for Explanation of Occurrences | Hypotheses | Giant impact hypothesis • Himalia Crash Theory |