<p>I'd recommend taking a look at this <a href="http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.astro.41.082201.113457?journalCode=astro" rel="nofollow">review paper</a>. The author is well known for doing SPH simulations of lunar formation models, so it should provide a good starting point.</p>

<p>On a side note, the most popular moon formation theory is probably the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_impact_hypothesis" rel="nofollow">giant impact hypothesis</a> which suggests that the moon formed after a large body collided with the proto-earth.</p>

<p>However, you should be aware that there are severe problems with this model as it cannot properly explain the moon composition and/or the the angular momentum in the earth-moon system. </p>

<p>This <a href="http://arxiv.org/abs/1001.4243" rel="nofollow">paper</a> gives a rather critical (and technical) discussion of the giant impact model and might also provide an interesting read.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-18T17:24:41.650Z
Can the codes of the simulations performed in the review paper be found online? Or does anyone have it?
Artemisia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-18T19:05:42.957Z
@Artemisia - I don't know. It is not common practice to make such codes openly available, so odds are against it.
Michael B.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-19T01:28:29.830Z
Oh... but how must I begin the code? Is there any reference out there that I can use to build code exactly like the simulation?
Artemisia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-19T10:58:56.590Z
@Artemisia - Maybe this [paper](http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~robin/c03finalrev.pdf).
Michael B.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-19T12:22:01.400Z
I have looked at it, but I can't understand where should I begin my coding.
Artemisia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-19T14:13:01.300Z
In the sense, I don't know how to begin, what kind of coding is required, how to proceed with it and how to obtain the final result.
Artemisia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-19T19:01:03.027Z
@Artemisia - These types of code are difficult to set up and can take months to years of research to design and test. Frankly this is well beyond my expertise. I'd suggest posting a new question specifically on how to set up a physically accurate SPH simulation, or contact someone that does this type of work.
Michael B.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-18T13:57:18.413Z
2014-01-18T13:57:18.413Z
Michael B.
<p>I am highly interested in how the moon originated. Theories suggest that the moon is a chunk of the earth, or rather, both were at one point one celestial body. Is there any literature out there with regard to this topic? I mean papers and simulation applets and algorithms. </p>

<the-moon>
Recommended papers
Artemisia
# Recommended papers

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-16)

I am highly interested in how the moon originated. Theories suggest that the moon is a chunk of the earth, or rather, both were at one point one celestial body. Is there any literature out there with regard to this topic? I mean papers and simulation applets and algorithms.

**Tags:** the-moon


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-01-18. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

I'd recommend taking a look at this [review paper](http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.astro.41.082201.113457?journalCode=astro). The author is well known for doing SPH simulations of lunar formation models, so it should provide a good starting point.

On a side note, the most popular moon formation theory is probably the [giant impact hypothesis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_impact_hypothesis) which suggests that the moon formed after a large body collided with the proto-earth.

However, you should be aware that there are severe problems with this model as it cannot properly explain the moon composition and/or the the angular momentum in the earth-moon system.

This [paper](http://arxiv.org/abs/1001.4243) gives a rather critical (and technical) discussion of the giant impact model and might also provide an interesting read.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Can the codes of the simulations performed in the review paper be found online? Or does anyone have it?  
> **username_1**: @username_0 - I don't know. It is not common practice to make such codes openly available, so odds are against it.  
> **username_0**: Oh... but how must I begin the code? Is there any reference out there that I can use to build code exactly like the simulation?  
> **username_1**: @username_0 - Maybe this [paper](http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~robin/c03finalrev.pdf).  
> **username_0**: I have looked at it, but I can't understand where should I begin my coding.  
> **username_0**: In the sense, I don't know how to begin, what kind of coding is required, how to proceed with it and how to obtain the final result.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 - These types of code are difficult to set up and can take months to years of research to design and test. Frankly this is well beyond my expertise. I'd suggest posting a new question specifically on how to set up a physically accurate SPH simulation, or contact someone that does this type of work.  

---

