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The idea that water on Earth may have been delivered through asteroid impacts is a widely accepted hypothesis within the scientific community. This hypothesis suggests that during the early stages of Earth's formation, the planet was incredibly hot and dry. Water, being a volatile compound, would have had difficulty surviving such extreme conditions.

The delivery of water to Earth by asteroids or comets, often referred to as the "late heavy bombardment," is thought to have occurred around 4 billion years ago. During this period, the inner solar system experienced a higher frequency of large impacts by asteroids and comets. These impacts could have brought water-rich materials from the outer regions of the solar system to Earth.

The evidence supporting this hypothesis includes the isotopic composition of Earth's water, which closely matches that of water found in certain types of meteorites. Additionally, studies of comets and asteroids have shown that they can contain significant amounts of water in the form of ice.

One notable example that supports this idea is the discovery of water on the Moon. Lunar missions, such as the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), have detected water ice in permanently shadowed craters at the Moon's poles. It is believed that these water deposits were delivered by comets or asteroids impacting the Moon's surface.

While the delivery of water to Earth through asteroid impacts is a compelling hypothesis, it is important to note that it is still an area of active scientific research. Scientists continue to investigate and refine our understanding of the origin of Earth's water through various methods, including laboratory experiments, computer simulations, and analysis of space missions' data.

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