188-moon-forming-impact-dixon – This astronomical illustration visualizes the giant impact hypothesis, capturing a cataclysmic collision between the proto-Earth and a Mars-sized planetesimal (often referred to as Theia). A colossal, brilliant orange and red explosion erupts from the point of contact, ejecting incandescent magma, debris, and shockwaves across the planetary surface. The untouched hemisphere of the planet reveals a primitive, cratered crust swirling with atmospheric features, set against a dark space background enriched by a purple nebula and distant stars. acrylic and gouache, 2003
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