  The Earth-Moon system is unusual in several respects. The Moon is roughly 1/4
the radius of the Earth - a larger satellite-to-planet size ratio than all
known satellites other than Pluto's Charon. The Moon has a tiny core, perhaps
with only ~1% of its mass, in contrast to Earth whose core contains nearly 30%
of its mass. The Earth-Moon system has a high total angular momentum, implying
a rapidly spinning Earth when the Moon formed. In addition, the early Moon was
hot and at least partially molten with a deep magma ocean. Identification of a
model for lunar origin that can satisfactorily explain all of these features
has been the focus of decades of research.

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics;Geophysics;Space Physics