New research reveals that an asteroid impact billions of years ago created enormous canyons on the moon's far side. This discovery offers valuable insights into the moon's and Earth's formation and highlights the potential for scientific discoveries in permanently shadowed areas.
A recently released image from NASA offers a glimpse into a monumental event in the moon's history. Billions of years ago, a colossal asteroid collided with the lunar far side, leaving behind a pair of vast canyons that dwarf even Arizona's Grand Canyon. This information comes from a groundbreaking study conducted by U.S. and British scientists who analyzed photos and data from NASA 's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
The study reveals that the asteroid, estimated to be 15 miles wide, struck the moon near its south pole. The impact created a massive basin and unleashed a torrent of boulders traveling at nearly a mile per second. These projectiles rained down on the lunar surface, carving out the massive canyons in a mere 10 minutes, a stark contrast to the millions of years it took the Grand Canyon to form. The energy released during this cataclysmic event is estimated to have been over 130 times the world's current nuclear weapon stockpile. Remarkably, NASA's targeted exploration zone for the Artemis program, focused on the moon's near side, appears to have been spared from the debris generated by this ancient impact. This means the region boasts pristine, older rocks dating back over 4 billion years, offering invaluable insights into both the moon's and Earth's formation. These rocks could reveal secrets about the early solar system and the processes that shaped our planets.While the study sheds light on this dramatic event, some mysteries remain. Scientists are still investigating whether the newly formed canyons are permanently shadowed, like some craters at the lunar south pole. Such permanently shadowed areas are believed to hold significant amounts of ice, a potential resource for future lunar missions. The ice could be extracted and used for rocket fuel and drinking water, supporting long-term human presence on the moon. The Artemis program, the successor to the Apollo missions, aims to return astronauts to the moon within this decade, with plans for a lunar orbital flight next year and a landing shortly thereafter. The discovery of these ancient canyons adds another layer of intrigue to the moon's history and underscores the scientific treasures awaiting discovery in the cosmos
MOON ASTEROID CANYONS SCIENTISTS NASA ARTEMIS PROGRAM
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