<p>The young Earth was a fearsome place of asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions, looked over by a Moon much closer than it is now and also riven with strikes.</p>

Early Earth

http://www.space-art.co.uk

An animation of the primitive Earth in the process of formation. We view the newborn world from its troubled surface — a sea of lava dotted with volcanoes spewing more lava, ash and smoke into the atmosphere. Lightning is common, and meteorites fall frequently, illuminating the black, lifeless, surface rocks. Sky created in Eon Vue, distant volcanoes made in Photoshop, and everything put together in 3DS Max. Thanks to Pete Draper for his awesome tutorials which I adapted to make the lava fountains, meteors and lightning. (Although the latter two are highly involved. Next time I will make the lightning and meteor sequences in Photoshop!)

See also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJnEvgJDlMQ, which is similar but does not show the Moon in the sky.

Thanks to clavius500 who provided the cool music.

Animation of the Primordial Earth and Moon

The young Earth was a fearsome place of asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions, looked over by a Moon much closer than it is now and also riven with strikes.

The Story of the Solar System: The Primordial Earth

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Fascinating article from Sky at Night magazine...