The Earth had rings? (Like Saturn)

[Acepilot]

Happened to find this interesting read:

http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf076/sf076a05.htm

Anyone know if this is true?

 

[Pilot7893]

The moon used to be a ring of molten rock that then clumped together over time. So yes, Earth used to have rings. It's just no one was around to see them.

 

[Hielor]

The moon used to be a ring of molten rock that then clumped together over time. So yes, Earth used to have rings. It's just no one was around to see them.

Er, what?

There are several theories for how the moon was formed.

 

[MAraujo]

The theory that is most widely accepted today involves a glancing blow from a mars sized object that ejected much of the Earth's (and the impactor's) mantle into space. That material may have stayed in orbit as rings for millions of years or just a couple of months (depending on who you ask). Over time though, it eventually coalesced into the moon.

 

[Ark]

Earth has rings right now, made out of paint chips and bits of Russian satellites.

 

[MAraujo]

At the present rate, geostationary orbit is going to become crowded in the not too distant future.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Uhh, I thought the moon was an extra-planetary visitor, not made up of our own stuff. That's why it isn't tidal locked to the equator like all the other moons in the solar system. Sorry for the over simplification, but I had a root canal this morning and I'm tired...

 

[Hielor]

Uhh, I thought the moon was an extra-planetary visitor, not made up of our own stuff. That's why it isn't tidal locked to the equator like all the other moons in the solar system. Sorry for the over simplification, but I had a root canal this morning and I'm tired...

Like I said... there are several theories, and we can't prove any of them.

 

[Mandella]

Did no one else go read the article? It isn't talking about billions of years ago, it's talking about several times in the last 2800 years.

Before you head over though, Science Frontiers is a mag that reprints reports of [SIZE=-1] "scientific anomalies; that is, those observations and facts that challenge prevailing scientific paradigms."

So, uh, grains of salt required.
[/SIZE]

 

[T.Neo]

Like I said... there are several theories, and we can't prove any of them.

I'm pretty sure many theories about the Moon's formation would be regarded as absurd by science today.

We have a theory, involving a planetary-sized impactor spalling off material from the Earth that later formed into the Moon, that seems to fit the evidence pretty well and is commonly accepted.

Same thing with evolution. It's a theory, but it is essentially universally accepted.

 

[Hielor]

I'm pretty sure many theories about the Moon's formation would be regarded as absurd by science today.

We have a theory, involving a planetary-sized impactor spalling off material from the Earth that later formed into the Moon, that seems to fit the evidence pretty well and is commonly accepted.

Same thing with evolution. It's a theory, but it is essentially universally accepted.

That theory of the moon's formation is nowhere near as universally accepted as evolution. Not even close.

 

[T.Neo]

That theory of the moon's formation is nowhere near as universally accepted as evolution. Not even close.

Yes, but it is still widely accepted.

 

[Ghostrider]

The Earth is going to have rings again soon - lose enough toolboxes in orbit and Bob's your uncle.

 

[the.punk]

Did no one else go read the article? It isn't talking about billions of years ago, it's talking about several times in the last 2800 years.

Yes I also wondert about this.
I know that the earth had rings
but not 2800 years ago.