The Earth was roughly the same size before the Moon formed as it is today. The Moon was formed from a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object, known as Theia. This collision ejected a massive amount of debris into space, which eventually coalesced to form the Moon.
While the collision did significantly alter Earth's surface, it didn't drastically change its overall size. The Earth's mass and volume remained largely the same, with only a small percentage of its material being ejected into space to form the Moon.
Here are some key points to consider:
- Earth's size: The Earth's diameter is approximately 12,742 kilometers (7,918 miles).
- Moon's size: The Moon's diameter is approximately 3,474 kilometers (2,159 miles).
- Theia's size: Theia was roughly the size of Mars, which has a diameter of approximately 6,779 kilometers (4,216 miles).
- Collision's impact: The collision was a catastrophic event that reshaped Earth's surface and led to the formation of the Moon. However, it didn't significantly alter Earth's overall size.
The collision that formed the Moon was a crucial event in Earth's history, but it didn't dramatically change the planet's size. The Earth we know today is the result of this collision, which played a significant role in shaping the planet's environment and its potential for life.
