Physics Colloquium: Planetary Impacts in the Early Solar System
Prof. Oded Aharonson, Weizmann Institute of Science
Abstract:
The early Solar System was a violent place. Moon- to Mars-size bodies were colliding and planetary embryos were growing and breaking apart. There is a growing appreciation of the importance of planetary-scale impacts for sculpting our planetary system. In this talk I will describe some profound consequences of these collisions on terrestrial planet formation, crustal evolution, moon and moonlets formation, material ejection, and asteroid origins. A new hypothesis for Earth’s Moon formation will be presented, and the dynamics of moonlets merger explored. The enigmatic composition of the Martian Trojan Asteroids will be linked to their genesis.
Event Organizer: Dr. Ishay Pomerantz
