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Image Credit: Universe Today
The Moon Solidified 4.43 Billion Years Ago
- New measurements of rocks gathered during the Apollo missions indicate that the Moon solidified around 4.43 billion years ago, coinciding with Earth becoming habitable.
- The analysis of Moon rocks shows it initially formed as a molten blob post-collision, leading to its layering and the formation of the residual liquid KREEP.
- Research on KREEP found in the Apollo rocks suggests it formed around 140 million years after the birth of the Solar System.
- Scientists studied the lutetium-hafnium ratio in Moon rocks to determine the timing of KREEP formation, leading to the conclusion of around 4.43 billion years ago.
- The Moon's solidification occurred amidst planetary impacts, shedding light on its early history post-formation from a collision with a Mars-sized world.
- The study's findings contribute to understanding lunar history and Earth's evolution, with implications for the last major impact on Earth during the Moon's formation.
- The dating of lunar cooling aids in comprehending Earth's transformation into a habitable world, crucial for the evolution of life.
- By clarifying the Moon's history, scientists are better prepared for upcoming missions like Chang'e and Artemis to gather more lunar knowledge.
- Further rock samples from the South Pole-Aitken basin are expected to provide more insights into the Moon's history and geological timeline.
- Understanding the Moon's cooling process helps in deciphering the formation of rock deposits like mare basalts, crucial for revealing lunar surface evolution.
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