The Hadean Eon, named after the Greek god and ruler of the underworld Hades, is the oldest eon and dates from 4.5–4.0 billion years ago. This time represents Earth's earliest history, during which the planet was characterized by a partially molten surface, volcanism, and asteroid impacts.
What major events happened in the Hadean Era?
Hadean Eon
During Hadean time, the solar system was forming within a cloud of dust and gas known as the solar nebula, which eventually spawned asteroids, comets, moons and planets. Astrogeophysicists theorize that about 4.52 billion years ago the proto-Earth collided with a Mars-size planetoid named Theia.
What are the key events in the Hadean Eon timeline?
Hadean Eon: The Formation of Earth (4.6 to 4.0 billion years ago)
- HEAT SOURCE: Earth established a heat source with the sun.
- MAGNETIC FIELD: Convection currents produced a geodynamo. This was the first step for life to persist on Earth.
- MOON FORMATION: The formation of our moon was key to stabilize our climate.
