The Earth Moon System

The Earth-Moon neighborhood is the scene of a large variety of applications that concern asteroids, lunar exploration and space debris in Earth orbit. In particular, recent efforts by the scientific community have focused on the possibility of extending the human operations beyond the radiation belts; of exploiting in-situ resources, either on the lunar surface or on asteroids retrieved to the vicinity of the Earth; and of mitigating the space debris concern by taking advantage of the lunar perturbation. The characteristic dynamics in the cislunar space represents an opportunity for the mission designer, but also a challenge in terms of theoretical understanding and operational control. This Research Topic covers the Earth-Moon dynamics in its complexity and allure, considering the most relevant aspects for both natural and artificial objects, in order to get a new comprehension of the dynamics at stake along with the operational procedures that can handle it.

Since the beginning of civilization, the origins of the Earth and Moon have been the subjects of continuing interest, speculation, and enquiry. These are also among the most challenging of all scientific problems. They are, perhaps to a unique degree, interdisciplinary, having attracted the attention of philosophers, astronomers, mathematicians, geologists, chemists, and physicists. A large and diverse literature has developed, far beyond the capacity of individuals to assimilate adequately. Consequently, most of those who attempt to present review-syntheses in the area tend to reflect the perspectives of their own particular disciplines. The present author's approach is that of a geochemist, strongly influenced by the basic phil osophy of Harold Urey. Whereas most astronomical phenomena are controlled by gravitational and magnetic fields, and by nuclear interactions, Urey (1952) emphasized that the formation of the solar system occurred in a pressure-temperature regime wherein the chemical properties of matter were at least as important as those of gravitational and magnetic fields. This was the principal theme of his 1952 book, "The Planets," which revolutionized our approach to this subject. In many subsequent papers, Urey strongly emphasized the importance of meteorites in providing critical evidence of chemical conditions in the primordial solar nebula, and of the chemical fractionation processes which occurred during formation of the terrestrial planets. This approach has been followed by most subsequent geochemists and cosmochemists.

On January 20-21, 1964, the Institute for Space Studies of the Goddard Space Flight Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was host to an international group of astronomers, physicists, and Earth scientists, gathered to discuss the Earth-Moon system. This was the sixth in a continuing series of interdisciplinary meetings on topics in space physics held at the Institute. The conference was organ ized by G.J.F. MacDonald, of the University of California at Los Angeles, and by R.H. Dicke, of Princeton University. The working title of the conference was "The Dynamics of the Earth-Moon System," and indeed much of the contents of this proceedings volume is concerned with dynamical problems, but the conference dealt with many other topics concerning the Earth-Moon system, and hence we have adopted the shorter title for this volume. The conference proceedings have been somewhat rear·· ranged from the order in which the papers were actually presented. In doing this the editors are exercising hindsight to bring together closely related discussions. The first paper, by D. Brouwer, discusses the motions and moments of inertia of the Moon and their relation to the lunar figure and composition. From this discussion it emerges there remain many uncertainties in the motion of the Moon associated with the lunar composition and the distribution of its mass.

Origins of the Earth, Moon, and Life in the Solar System: An Interdisciplinary Approach presents state-of-the-art knowledge that is based on theories, experiments, observations, calculations, and analytical data from five astro-sciences, astronomy, astrobiology, astrogeology, astrophysics, and cosmochemistry. Beginning with the origin of elements, and moving on to cover the formation of the early Solar System, the giant impact model of the Earth and Moon, the oldest records of life, and the possibility of life on other planets in the Solar System, this interdisciplinary reference provides a complex understanding of the planets and the formation of life. Synthesizing concepts from all branches of astro-sciences into one, the book is a valuable reference for researchers in astrogeology, astrophysics, cosmochemistry, astrobiology, astronomy, and other space science fields, helping users better understand the intersection of these sciences. Includes extensive figures and tables to enhance key concepts Uses callout boxes throughout to provide context and deeper explanations Presents up-to-date information on the universe, stars, planets, moons, and life in the solar system Combines knowledge from the fields of astrogeology, astrophysics, cosmochemistry, astrobiology, and astronomy, helping readers understand the origins of the Earth, the moon, and life in our solar system

Contains 250 questions and answers about astronomy, particular for the amateur astronomer.

The age-old question of how our home planet and its satellite originated has in recent times undergone a minor revolution. The emergence of the "giant impact theory" as the most successful model for the origin of the Moon has been difficult to reconcile with some aspects of the Earth, and the development of an integrated model for the origin of the Earth-Moon system has been difficult for this reason. However, recent technical advances in experimental and isotopic work, together with intensified interest in the modeling of planetary dynamics, have produced a wealth of new results requiring a rethinking of models for the origin of the Earth and Moon. This book is intended to serve as a resource for those scientists working closely in this field, while at the same time it provides enough balance and depth to offer an introduction for students or technically minded general readers. Its thirty chapters address isotopic and chemical constraints on accretion, the dynamics of terrestrial planet formation, the impact-triggered formation of the Earth-Moon system, differentiation of the Earth and Moon, the origin of terrestrial volatiles, and conditions on the young Earth and Moon. Covering such subjects as the history and origin of the Moon's orbit, water on the Earth, and the implications of Earth-Moon interactions for terrestrial climate and life, the book constitutes a state-of-the-art overview of the most recent investigations in the field. Although many advances have been made in our ability to evaluate competing models of the formation of the Earth-Moon system, there are still many gaps in our understanding. This book makes great strides toward closing those gaps by highlighting the extensive progress that has been made and pointing toward future research.

"This unusual book, published to honor Warren Bell Hamilton, comprises a diverse, cross-disciplinary collection of bold new ideas in Earth and planetary science. This volume is a rich resource for researchers at all levels looking for interesting, unusual, and off-beat ideas to investigate or set as student projects"--