{"id":560421,"date":"2026-10-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/webb\/nasas-webb-provides-crash-course-on-planet-shattering-collisions\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T14:00:00","slug":"nasas-webb-provides-crash-course-on-planet-shattering-collisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=560421","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s Webb Provides Crash Course on Planet-Shattering Collisions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex 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Fun\/Learning<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-spacer\">\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-article-hero-header nasa-gb-align-full bg-carbon-90 width-full maxw-full color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-hero-header\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full minh-tablet grid-container minh-tablet flex-column padding-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-3 z-400\">\n<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n<div class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">6 Min Read<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA\u2019s Webb Provides Crash Course on Planet-Shattering Collisions\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"Artist\u2019s concept of a star and its debris disk against the black background of space. The star is in the background, right of center, and depicted as a small, luminous sphere. The debris disk is a large blue ring that encircles the star. The debris disk is angled toward the viewer, so that the portion nearest to the viewer extends beyond the bottom frame of the illustration. Many dark, rocky fragments are scattered throughout the debris disk. In the foreground, toward the left, is a small planetary embryo colliding into the left side of a larger spherical object. The impact site glows bright yellow and orange and has a mottled appearance, as though chunks of both colliding bodies are breaking up and being destroyed. Orange-yellow streams of vapor extend outward from the collision area. Behind the debris disk and its star are many small stars in the background. A label in the bottom right corner reads \u201cArtist\u2019s Concept.\u201d\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3840w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1152&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1125&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\"><figcaption class=\"hds-caption maxw-mobile desktop:padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0 color-carbon-30\">\n<div><figcaption>The types of collisions within young stellar systems known as extreme debris disks are relevant to scientists\u2019 understanding of our own solar system, which is thought to have undergone similar impact events that created our Moon and shaped Earth\u2019s initial state.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Credits: <\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Artwork: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the early history of our solar system, scientists theorize that a Mars-sized object called Theia smashed into the infant Earth, vaporizing massive amounts of rock and blasting it into space. Some of that material coalesced into the Moon, where NASA\u2019s Artemis program is returning humans, preparing for Mars, and shaping the future of space exploration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That long-ago, violent collision reshaped our home planet. Astronomers have used NASA\u2019s James Webb Space Telescope to examine a class of young stellar systems that show signs of similar upheavals, providing clues to the amount of energy in their collisions. The results offer insights into the composition and evolution of these chaotic systems.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team\u2019s findings published Thursday in <a href=\"http:\/\/doi.org\/10.3847\/1538-4357\/ae88fe\"  rel=\"noopener\">The Astrophysical Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Image: Extreme Debris Disk (Artist\u2019s Concept)<\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Artist\u2019s concept of a star and its debris disk against the black background of space. The star is in the background, right of center, and depicted as a small, luminous sphere. The debris disk is a large blue ring that encircles the star. The debris disk is angled toward the viewer, so that the portion nearest to the viewer extends beyond the bottom frame of the illustration. Many dark, rocky fragments are scattered throughout the debris disk. In the foreground, toward the left, is a small planetary embryo colliding into the left side of a larger spherical object. The impact site glows bright yellow and orange and has a mottled appearance, as though chunks of both colliding bodies are breaking up and being destroyed. Orange-yellow streams of vapor extend outward from the collision area. Behind the debris disk and its star are many small stars in the background. A label in the bottom right corner reads \u201cArtist\u2019s Concept.\u201d\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3840w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1152&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1125&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The types of collisions within young stellar systems known as extreme debris disks are relevant to scientists\u2019 understanding of our own solar system, which is thought to have undergone similar impact events that created our Moon and shaped Earth\u2019s initial state.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Artwork: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The environment surrounding a star changes as it ages, beginning with a <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/universe\/glossary\/#circumstellar-disk\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">juvenile, gas-rich protoplanetary disk<\/a> where <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/universe\/glossary\/#planetesimal\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">forming planets<\/a> can reside, before evolving to a <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/universe\/glossary\/#debris-disk\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gas-poor debris disk<\/a>. During its mission lifetime, NASA\u2019s retired <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/spitzer\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Spitzer Space Telescope<\/a> examined the debris disk stage and discovered a subclass termed extreme debris disks. These systems harbor unusually large amounts of warm dust close to the star, in the region comparable to where rocky planets orbit in our solar system. A team of astronomers led by Kate Su of the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado investigated these intriguing objects with Webb.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contrary to theoretical predictions, which suggest we should observe many extreme debris disks, observations indicate that these environments are rare. Scientists estimate roughly only 1% of young stars show observable signatures of this phase based on the data collected so far, including possibly our own solar system during its formation. Despite their rarity, the team was able to compile a sample of 21 extreme debris disks, including five from Spitzer\u2019s archival data and 16 from Webb, with 12 newly observed disks and follow-up observations on four of Spitzer\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis is the first time we have gathered enough systems to truly understand this subclass that we call extreme debris disks,\u201d said Su, lead author of the paper. \u201cBefore Webb, we had limited information. We knew that they are weird and very different from the typical cold debris disks that we know, like <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/hubble\/nasas-hubble-webb-probe-surprisingly-smooth-disk-around-vega\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Vega<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/webb\/webb-looks-for-fomalhauts-asteroid-belt-and-finds-much-more\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Fomalhaut<\/a>. Now that we have more data, we can pin down what these disks represent for planet formation and evolution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team confirmed that extreme debris disks share three key properties: smaller dust grains than those in protoplanetary or classic debris disks, a high concentration of warm dust, and irregular brightness variations, all revealed by mid-infrared <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/universe\/glossary\/#spectrum\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">spectra<\/a> from Webb and Spitzer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To determine the driving factor for these qualities, the team studied the mineralogical makeup of the disks. They found that their sample could be categorized into silica-rich and silica-poor disks. Volcanic glass like obsidian is one example of silica-rich material found on Earth, whereas the silica-poor mineral forsterite appears as green sand grains on some beaches in Hawaii. An extreme debris disk\u2019s category relays information on the type of collisions producing the impact debris and may help account for its variability in infrared brightness.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo just see their mid-infrared emission and beautiful spectral features with Webb, which allowed us to identify their compositions, was the most exciting thing for me,\u201d said Agnes Kospal of Konkoly Observatory in Budapest, Hungary, and a coauthor of the study. \u201cWe have no other way to study these planetary embryos directly because they are too small.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of their sample, about one-third is silica-rich, suggesting these disks are produced by high-energy impacts between Mars-sized bodies where a significant portion of the material is vaporized. The remaining two-thirds of their sample is silica-poor, indicating that the collisions are occurring on smaller scales, like grazing, between Moon-sized objects. Silica-rich disks are found only around stars younger than 300 million years, while silica-poor disks persist across a broad range of ages and often show greater brightness variability. The team proposes that this variability is driven by the rapid evolution of fresh debris through orbital changes and additional impacts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their findings can be applied to our own solar system, which may have experienced more than one extreme debris disk phase.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHow rocky planets formed and giant planets evolved are part of the broader story of the solar system\u2019s formation. It\u2019s all one story,\u201d said Su. \u201cOur work on extreme debris disks helps us bring together the big picture of what we currently understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Image: Composition of Extreme Debris Disks Across Time<\/h2>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-wide\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \" style=\"--hds-image-contain-bg:#ffffff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=3841&#038;h=2400&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3841\" height=\"2400\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=3841&#038;h=2400&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Graphic titled Extreme Debris Disks, Composition Across Time showing a plot and corresponding timeline of the solar system. The plot\u2019s y-axis is labeled Silica with an up arrow labeled rich and a down arrow labeled poor. X-axis is labeled Age (millions of years) and starts with 1 at the left and increases by factors of ten, ending with 1000 at right. A key at right has 3 symbols: black dot is Silica-rich disk, purple is Silica-poor disk, and orange is Protoplanetary disk. All 27 orange dots are within the first 10 million years and range in silica composition. The 8 black and 13 purple dots begin to appear around 10 million. The black dots stop around 100 million. The purple dots continue right. The timeline below has the same labels as the plot\u2019s x-axis. A gray band before 100 marks the Moon-forming impact. A gray band before 1000 marks the Late heavy bombardment. 3 blue bands stretch from left to right: Giant planet formation, Terrestrial planet formation, and Giant planet migration\/orbital instability.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=3841&#038;h=2400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3841w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=300&#038;h=187&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=768&#038;h=480&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=640&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=960&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1280&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=400&#038;h=250&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=600&#038;h=375&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=900&#038;h=562&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=750&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1250&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3841px) 100vw, 3841px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">By investigating the compositions of extreme debris disks, scientists inferred that silica-rich disks are produced by high-energy impacts of Mars-sized objects, while silica-poor disks are created by less energetic events from Moon-sized bodies.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">Illustration: NASA, ESA, CSA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI)<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simulations suggest that terrestrial planets, such as Earth, should form within the first few hundred million years of a solar system\u2019s formation. This period fits with the ages of silica-rich extreme debris disks observed so far and aligns with the estimation that Earth and the Moon formed around 100 million years after the Sun formed, with the Moon <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/moon\/formation\/\" rel=\"noopener\">likely being the result of a collision<\/a> between Earth and a Mars-sized object.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for whether our Sun underwent a silica-poor extreme disk phase, if older silica-poor disks and their random intervals of infrared brightness do reflect orbital instability, this would be broadly consistent with the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/moon\/lunar-craters\/what-is-the-late-heavy-bombardment\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Late Heavy Bombardment hypothesis<\/a> for our solar system. In that scenario, the gas giant planets migrated significant distances, gravitationally disrupting the orbits of smaller bodies and triggering catastrophic collisions that generated the short-lived, dust-rich phases observed in extreme debris disks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOf course, there\u2019s many things we still don\u2019t know about these disks,\u201d said Attila Moor of Konkoly Observatory, a coauthor of the study. \u201cWe expect no silica-rich systems among older extreme debris disks. We only have three disks in our sample that fit that age criteria, so it\u2019ll be nice to observe more of these systems to confirm our hypothesis.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The James Webb Space Telescope is the world\u2019s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To learn more about Webb, visit:<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/webb\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/webb<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Downloads &#038; Related Information<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following sections contain links to download this article\u2019s images and videos in all available resolutions followed by related information links, media contacts, and if available, research paper and Spanish translation links.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-link-list bg-carbon-05 padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link-list\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\tRelated Images &#038; Videos\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"2160\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Artist\u2019s concept of a star and its debris disk against the black background of space. The star is in the background, right of center, and depicted as a small, luminous sphere. The debris disk is a large blue ring that encircles the star. The debris disk is angled toward the viewer, so that the portion nearest to the viewer extends beyond the bottom frame of the illustration. Many dark, rocky fragments are scattered throughout the debris disk. In the foreground, toward the left, is a small planetary embryo colliding into the left side of a larger spherical object. The impact site glows bright yellow and orange and has a mottled appearance, as though chunks of both colliding bodies are breaking up and being destroyed. Orange-yellow streams of vapor extend outward from the collision area. Behind the debris disk and its star are many small stars in the background. A label in the bottom right corner reads \u201cArtist\u2019s Concept.\u201d\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=3840&#038;h=2160&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3840w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=300&#038;h=169&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=768&#038;h=432&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=576&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=864&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1152&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=400&#038;h=225&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=600&#038;h=338&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=900&#038;h=506&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=675&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAEDAB1HT4BT4ARVRDZ9H4.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1125&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Extreme Debris Disk (Artist\u2019s Concept)<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black-important\">The types of collisions within young stellar systems known as extreme debris disks are relevant to scientists\u2019 understanding of our own solar system, which is thought to have undergone similar impact events that created our Moon and shaped Earth\u2019s initial state.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/asset\/webb\/extreme-debris-disk-artists-concept\/\"  aria-label=\"Extreme Debris Disk (Artist\u2019s Concept)\" class=\"link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n<div class=\"width-full\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"3841\" height=\"2400\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=3841&#038;h=2400&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Graphic titled Extreme Debris Disks, Composition Across Time showing a plot and corresponding timeline of the solar system. The plot\u2019s y-axis is labeled Silica with an up arrow labeled rich and a down arrow labeled poor. X-axis is labeled Age (millions of years) and starts with 1 at the left and increases by factors of ten, ending with 1000 at right. A key at right has 3 symbols: black dot is Silica-rich disk, purple is Silica-poor disk, and orange is Protoplanetary disk. All 27 orange dots are within the first 10 million years and range in silica composition. The 8 black and 13 purple dots begin to appear around 10 million. The black dots stop around 100 million. The purple dots continue right. The timeline below has the same labels as the plot\u2019s x-axis. A gray band before 100 marks the Moon-forming impact. A gray band before 1000 marks the Late heavy bombardment. 3 blue bands stretch from left to right: Giant planet formation, Terrestrial planet formation, and Giant planet migration\/orbital instability.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=3841&#038;h=2400&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 3841w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=300&#038;h=187&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=768&#038;h=480&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=1024&#038;h=640&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=1536&#038;h=960&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=2048&#038;h=1280&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2048w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=400&#038;h=250&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=600&#038;h=375&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=900&#038;h=562&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=750&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w, https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/missions\/webb\/science\/2026\/10\/STScI-01M3MAKR83MS8GD7SCTVSQYRXG.jpg?w=2000&#038;h=1250&#038;fit=crop&#038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3841px) 100vw, 3841px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Composition of Extreme Debris Disks Across Time<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black-important\">By investigating the compositions of extreme debris disks, scientists inferred that silica-rich disks are produced by high-energy impacts of Mars-sized objects, while silica-poor disks are created by less energetic events from Moon-sized bodies.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/asset\/webb\/composition-of-extreme-debris-disks-across-time\/\"  aria-label=\"Composition of Extreme Debris Disks Across Time\" class=\"link-external-false\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path>\n                            <\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-related-information\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Links<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>View:<\/strong> Webb images of other debris disks around <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/hubble\/nasas-hubble-webb-probe-surprisingly-smooth-disk-around-vega\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Vega<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/webb\/webb-looks-for-fomalhauts-asteroid-belt-and-finds-much-more\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Fomalhaut<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/webb\/nasas-webb-discovers-dusty-cats-tail-in-beta-pictoris-system\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Beta Pictoris<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/webb\/new-webb-image-reveals-dusty-disk-like-never-seen-before\/\" rel=\"noopener\">AU Microscopii<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/hubble\/science\/science-highlights\/finding-planetary-construction-zones\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Finding Planetary Construction Zones<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explore:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/moon\/formation\/\" rel=\"noopener\">How did the Moon Form?<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Explore:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/universe\/stars\/planetary-system\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Planetary Systems<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Watch:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kRlhlCWplqk\"  rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Simulation of Collision that Formed the Moon<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>More Webb:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/latestnews\/\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/multimedia\/images\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Images<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/science-overview\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Science<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Home Page<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<html><body><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 nasa_template_article_b hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 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d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"><\/path><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"><\/circle><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Oct 01, 2026<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Location<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\"><a class=\"hds-location-tag-name\" href=\"https:\/\/nasa.gov\/goddard\" rel=\"noopener\"><span class=\"hds-meta-heading\">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"grid-row margin-y-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n<div class=\"subheading\">Contact<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-8\">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"heading-16 padding-bottom-1 border-bottom margin-bottom-2\">Media<\/div>\n<div class=\"cnd-extra-left-wysiwyg\">\n<p><strong>Laura Betz<\/strong><br \/>\nNASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<br \/>\nGreenbelt, Maryland<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:laura.e.betz@nasa.gov\">laura.e.betz@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Abigail Major<\/strong><br \/>\nSpace Telescope Science Institute<br \/>\nBaltimore, Maryland<\/p>\n<p><strong>Christine Pulliam<\/strong><br \/>\nSpace Telescope Science Institute<br \/>\nBaltimore, Maryland<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \">\n<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"article-tags\">\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\" rel=\"noopener\">James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/astrophysics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Astrophysics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/astrophysics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Astrophysics Division<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Science &#038; Research<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/universe\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The Universe<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Related Topics<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/webb\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>James Webb Space Telescope<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Webb is the premier observatory of the next decade, serving thousands of astronomers worldwide. It studies every phase in the\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"1032\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png 1041w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=300,297 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=768,761 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=1024,1015 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=400,397 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=600,595 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/jwst_artist_concept_0.png?resize=900,892 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/universe\/stars\/planetary-system\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Planetary Systems<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1536px\" height=\"1536px\" data-no-id=\"true\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/universe\/2023\/09\/star-banner.webp?w=1536 1536w\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/astro\/universe\/2023\/09\/star-banner.webp?w=1536\" ><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/moon\/formation\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Moon Formation<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Earth\u2019s Moon was born out of destruction. There are several theories about our Moon\u2019s formation, but almost all share that\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"461\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/psd\/lunar-science\/internal_resources\/585\/Moon_formation_illustration.jpeg?w=576&#038;h=461&#038;%23038;fit=clip&#038;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/moon\/lunar-craters\/what-is-the-late-heavy-bombardment\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>What is the Late Heavy Bombardment?<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Did a wave of asteroids batter the inner solar system 4 billion years ago, carving huge basins into Earth\u2019s Moon?\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/osirisrexshot21-00240-print.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/osirisrexshot21-00240-print.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/osirisrexshot21-00240-print.jpg?resize=300,113 300w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/osirisrexshot21-00240-print.jpg?resize=768,288 768w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/osirisrexshot21-00240-print.jpg?resize=400,150 400w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/osirisrexshot21-00240-print.jpg?resize=600,225 600w, https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/osirisrexshot21-00240-print.jpg?resize=900,338 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the early history of our solar system, scientists theorize that a Mars-sized object called Theia smashed into the infant Earth, vaporizing massive amounts of rock and blasting it into space. Some of that material coalesced into the Moon, where NASA\u2019s Artemis program is returning humans, preparing for Mars, and shaping the future of space [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15612,15613,15614,15637,15597,15638],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-560421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-astrophysics","category-astrophysics-division","category-goddard-space-flight-center","category-james-webb-space-telescope-jwst","category-science-research","category-the-universe"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the early history of our solar system, scientists theorize that a Mars-sized object called Theia smashed into the infant Earth, vaporizing massive amounts of rock and blasting it into space. 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