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Riled Up is a journal of science, the environment, exploration, new technology, and related commentary.  Contributors include scientists, explorers, engineers, and others who provide perspectives and context not typically offered in general news circulation.  For interested readers, additional resources are included.

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Hugh Bollinger
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Dual moons

It has always been puzzling why the Moon's face directed towards Earth and the one we never see are so totally different. One is mostly flat with craters while the other is mountainous. A new study published from research by USA and UK astronomers now proposes an answer. Early in its evolution-- maybe 4 billion years ago when the Moon was still forming from a collision between the Earth and a Mars size planet --a second, smaller rocky mass came together in a slow-motion splat to form the moon we see today. [caption id="attachment_6172" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Dual moons colliding (source: BBC)"][/caption] The moon is certainly important in controlling the tides, allowing for total eclipses, and being the source of poets inspiration but a second bright orb circling our planet sounds like it would have been beautiful and interesting as well. WHB
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