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Science 4 August 2006:
Vol. 313. no. 5787, pp. 622 - 623
DOI: 10.1126/science.1131113
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Perspectives

PLANETARY SCIENCE:
Solving Laplace's Lunar Puzzle

Kimmo Innanen

Given its size and shape, the Moon's present orbit does not make sense. Its shape can be understood if, while the Moon was beginning to solidify, it was closer to Earth, with a more eccentric orbit.

The author is in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada. E-mail: kiminn{at}yorku.ca

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)