The Moon Is 40 Million Years Older Than Previously Thought
Lunar samples collected during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 were analyzed using a technique called atom probe tomography, revealing that the moon is likely at least 4.46 billion years old.
The moon's age has been recalculated to be approximately 40 million years older than previously believed, according to a recent study. Lunar samples collected during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 were analyzed using a technique called atom probe tomography, revealing that the moon is likely at least 4.46 billion years old. This new estimate suggests that the moon is only slightly younger than Earth, which is approximately 4.54 billion years old.
The study focused on crystals found in lunar dust, which are believed to have formed during the cooling process of the moon's surface after a colossal impact of our Earth with a Mars-sized object. By measuring the proportions of uranium and lead isotopes within these crystals, scientists were able to determine their age.
This discovery has important implications for our understanding of the moon's formation and evolution. It supports the prevailing theory that the moon was created through a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object.