Study explains why Earth’s ‘twin’ lacks rocky satellite.
Study explains why Earth’s ‘twin’ lacks rocky satellite.
Scientists have long speculated why Venus, with a similar size, mass, and structure to Earth, doesn’t have a moon. New UC Riverside research shows it’s because our hungry twin likely swallowed it.
In the past, scientists have theorized that Venus possibly had a moon at one time that got hit with something massive, obliterating it. Other theories centered around the idea that Venus never underwent a collision that formed a moon in the first place.
The new research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, shows that neither theory fits.
Read More: University of California - Riverside
Image: Image of Earth's fiery twin, Venus. (Credit: NASA/JPL/Caltech)
