Key information
- The age of the Moon could be revised from 4.35 billion years to 4.51 billion years.
- A period of intense warming and cooling about 4.35 billion years ago remelted the Moon’s surface.
- The intense heating of the Moon has erased many previous craters, which explains the relatively small number of craters observed on its surface.
Scientists have long estimated the age of the Moon from rock samples, assuming they had crystallized from an ocean of magma formed after a cataclysmic collision with a Mars-sized protoplanet in the beginning of Earth’s history. This collision is considered to be the last giant impact that our planet has experienced.
The dating of these rock samples made it possible to place the formation of the Moon at approximately 4.35 billion years ago. However, a new study calls this estimate into question. Professor Francis Nimmo and colleagues at the University of California, Santa Cruz propose that the Moon experienced a period of intense heating and cooling around 4.35 billion years ago, leading to a reshaping of its surface.
Revision of age estimate
By analyzing thermal patterns, the distribution of craters on the Moon and the ages of certain minerals, Nimmo’s team suggests that the Moon could be 4.51 billion years old. This discovery implies that the age of the Moon is significantly older than previously thought, potentially more than a million and a half years.
Explanations of lunar characteristics
The study also offers an explanation for the relatively small number of craters observed on the lunar surface compared to what would be expected given its age. The researchers propose that the intense heating episode obliterated many earlier craters. This study highlights the complex geological history of the Moon and highlights the need for continued research into its formation and evolution.
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