"Newly discovered moon rock reveals surprising age discrepancy"
TL;DR
Zircon crystals found in a rock collected by Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt in 1972 have provided scientists with new insights into the moon's formation and its age. Using a method called atom probe tomography, researchers confirmed that the moon formed more than 4.46 billion years ago, about 40 million years earlier than previously believed. The crystals, which formed after a giant impact between Earth and a Mars-sized object called Theia, help shed light on the moon's role in stabilizing Earth's axis and its significance for future space exploration.
Topics:top-newsscience-and-space#age-of-the-moon#apollo-17#lunar-formation#moon#science-and-space#zircon-crystals
- Rock collected by Apollo 17 astronaut in 1972 reveals moon's age Reuters
- Apollo moon rocks push back lunar formation by 40 million years The Washington Post
- Moon may be ‘40m years older’ than previously thought, researchers say The Guardian
- The moon may be 40 million years older than we thought, Apollo 17 samples suggest Space.com
- Lunar Crystals From Apollo Mission Show Moon Is 40 Million Years Older Than Thought IFLScience
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