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Worldbuilding

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    $\begingroup$ Nice question! Can you tell us (approximately) how big and how deep you envisage the catastrophe to have affected the Moon? "Huge portion" could be half the Moon! I'm asking for this clarification simply because the more energy is in the original wound, the longer any molten stone (magma) will glow; and the converse is similarly true. $\endgroup$
    – elemtilas
    Commented Apr 26 at 0:26
  • $\begingroup$ Have you looked at how long basaltic magma examples stay red glowing on earth? Going by those I would expect less then 48 hours. because there is the how long will it be red hot, how visible is red hot from Earth? $\endgroup$
    – Gault Drakkor
    Commented Apr 26 at 0:27
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    $\begingroup$ @GaultDrakkor : that's initially what I thought but it is not just a flow, but a vast sea of molten crust. Idk enough about the geology of the moon. Could the sudden pressure difference from the liquidized crust start short-lived volcanic or other geothermal processes that keep it going longer? How fast would it cool with less in the way of conductive medium due to the lack of atmosphere and flowing water etc... All the energy would dissipate through radiation. Would it form a skin that would keep the layer beneath the surface molten for longer, occasionally cracking to show red fracture? Idk $\endgroup$
    – Chromatic Realms
    Commented Apr 26 at 1:46
  • $\begingroup$ @elemtilas : about the size of Mare Imbrium, 700-800ish miles across $\endgroup$
    – Chromatic Realms
    Commented Apr 26 at 1:51
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    $\begingroup$ Thank you for editing that into your question! $\endgroup$
    – elemtilas
    Commented Apr 26 at 4:22