The origin of the moon.

Recent studies of the dynamics and thermodynamics of the early solar nebula have provided a basis for a theory of the origin of the moon which is consistent with presently developed views of the origin of the solar system. The hypothesis of inhomogeneous planetary accretion is extended. It is suggested that the anomalous properties of the moon, such as its enrichment in Ca, Al, Ti, and other refractories and its depletion in iron and volatiles can be explained if the bulk of the moon represents a high temperature condensate. It is proposed that the moon is composed chiefly of compounds that condense before iron and that the volatile content of the moon was brought in as a thin veneer after the solar nebula dissipated.