The largest crater on the moon, an ancient remnant of extreme cosmic violence, is believed to have formed 4.338 billion years ago when a massive rock collided with its surface, creating a molten pool of magma. This event sheds light on Earth’s turbulent cosmic environment during that era.
Recent chemical analyses of zircon crystals extracted from lunar samples have revealed that many of these crystals solidified from magma around the same time, but it was previously unclear whether this occurred due to numerous small impacts or a singular monumental collision.
Researchers at Arizona State University have made significant advancements by conducting precise age measurements of ten zircon crystals returned to Earth from the Apollo program. The team successfully dated these crystals by meticulously dissolving them, a process that requires specialized facilities due to the precious nature of lunar material.
The findings indicate that these zircon crystals all formed approximately 4.338 billion years ago, suggesting they originated from a singular catastrophic impact. If the resulting crater has not been obscured by subsequent geological activity, this collision likely contributed to the formation of the South Pole-Aitken basin, recognized as the largest crater on the moon.
This discovery not only marks a pivotal moment in lunar history but also offers insights into Earth’s ancient cosmic events. Given the moon’s comparatively smaller size, the likelihood of Earth encountering a substantial impact during this timeframe was significantly elevated. Such collisions may have delivered essential materials, potentially including water, which are vital for the origins of life.
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