Ever wondered how old the moon really is? Thanks to the recent Chang'e-6 mission, scientists now have a clearer answer 🌕✨. New samples from the Apollo Basin on the moon's far side have been precisely dated to 4.16 billion years ago!
In a study published in Nature Astronomy, a team of Chinese mainland and international researchers analyzed impact-melt fragments brought back by Chang'e-6. These tiny clasts (150-350 micrometers) act like natural clocks, ticking off the moment when a massive asteroid crash formed the Apollo Basin within the South Pole-Aitken Basin.
Why does this matter? During the Late Heavy Bombardment (LHB) over 4 billion years ago, the moon (and the rest of the solar system) faced a rain of asteroids. But scientists have debated whether this bombardment peaked in a sudden surge or declined gradually. By anchoring the Apollo Basin's formation at 4.16 billion years, the new data suggest a steady tapering off of impacts, pushing back the start of the LHB by at least 100 million years.
Chang'e-6 launched from the Chinese mainland on May 3, 2024, and on June 25, its returner landed with nearly 2 kilograms of lunar soil 🚀🌑. Alongside the Apollo Basin discovery, other studies on these precious samples have revealed clues about ancient volcanic activity, the moon's early magnetic field, water content, and deep-mantle chemistry.
This breakthrough not only rewrites a chapter of lunar history but also shows the power of international collaboration in space exploration. What's next? Researchers hope to unlock more secrets from these rocks and plan future missions to unravel the moon's ancient past even further 🔭👩🔬.
Stay tuned as we keep digging into the final frontier, one rock at a time!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
