More about the Moon

The formation of the Moon remains a fascinating topic, with two recent papers providing some important new insights. A numerical modelling study by Nakajima and Stevenson indicates that, despite the very high temperatures involved in the giant impact, only a minor amount of water would have been lost from the newly-formed Moon. This is important…

Should I update my insurance policy?

We have to get this sorted. One website claims that the only meteorite casualty in recent times was that celebrated dog, killed in Nakhla,Egypt in 1911. Another website says that the only known meteorite fatality was a cow in Valera, Venezuela in 1972. Even if both are correct, it suggests that you shouldn’t rush to…

Chondrules 2: Hot and dusty, with a chance of lightning!

Now, don’t get me wrong, the study of chondrules is a serious business. Understanding how these mm-sized objects formed is at the very heart of meteorite science. But just because a topic is important doesn’t mean it can’t be fun too! I’ve just spent two very enjoyable and thought provoking days at the Workshop on…

The view from Hawai’i is always clear

I am a really big fan of PSRD – that’s Planetary Science Research Discoveries to give it its full title. PSRD was jointly founded by planetary geoscientists Jeff Taylor and Linda Martel, who are based at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. The aim of the site is to provide the public with a scientists’…