Meteorite Impact Shapes Lunar Landscape Ahead of Historic Astronaut Landing

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A recent study reveals that a meteorite impact on the Moon created two valleys as deep as the Grand Canyon in just 10 minutes, setting the stage for future lunar exploration. According to David Kring, a researcher at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, the meteorite, which was approximately 25 kilometers in diameter, struck the Moon around 3.8 billion years ago, releasing energy equivalent to 130 times the world's atomic arsenal. This event resulted in the formation of the Schrödinger crater and two massive valleys, which are 270 kilometers long and up to 3.5 kilometers deep.

The findings, published in the journal Nature Communications, are significant for NASA's Artemis program, which aims to send astronauts to the lunar south pole, specifically the Aitken Basin, in 2027. The region has remained largely unexplored and holds rocks that are among the oldest on the Moon. Jens Örmo, a researcher from the Centre for Astrobiology in Madrid, noted that the impact cleared soil layers, making ancient geological features accessible for study.

These revelations will assist astronauts in retrieving samples that narrate the history of the Moon and Earth.

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