Title: “Apollo 17 Mission Lunar Dust Reveals Moon to be 40 Million Years Older than Previous Estimates”
Subtitle: New study using lunar dust crystals offers groundbreaking insights into the formation and age of Earth’s satellite
Date: [Today’s Date]
Researchers at the University of Glasgow have uncovered groundbreaking evidence regarding the formation and age of the moon, revealing that it is 40 million years older than previously believed. The findings were made possible by studying crystals within lunar dust collected during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, marking the last time humans set foot on the moon.
Lead author Dr Jennika Greer describes the discovery as “amazing” and highlights the importance of understanding the moon’s age in order to better comprehend its history. The study’s findings shed light on the moon’s formation following a colossal collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body approximately 100 million years after the solar system’s formation.
According to previous estimates, the moon was believed to be around 4.42 billion years old. However, recent research using a technique called atom probe tomography has indicated an even older age. This method involves using a laser to evaporate atoms from sharpened crystals, enabling the detection and measurement of uranium and lead isotopes. By examining the composition and decay rates of uranium and lead, scientists can estimate the age of the crystals and, subsequently, the moon.
The team’s research, published in the journal Geochemical Perspectives Letters, reveals that the crystals and, by extension, the moon itself, are at least 4.46 billion years old. This information pushes back the timeline for the moon’s first preserved crust by approximately 40 million years and provides a minimum age for the moon’s formation within 110 million years after the birth of the solar system.
Dr Romain Tartèse of the University of Manchester, who was not involved in the research, commended the study. He noted that the findings contradict recent proposals suggesting a younger moon formation. Tartèse added that the research implies the giant impact between Earth and the Mars-sized body likely occurred a few tens of million years before the revised estimate.
However, Tartèse cautioned that the study assumes the Apollo samples are representative of the entire moon, which may not necessarily be the case. To further our understanding, Tartèse emphasized the importance of future missions aimed at collecting samples from different regions of the moon.
The study’s results highlight the value of sample return missions and meticulous preservation of these samples. Despite the passage of more than 50 years since the Apollo samples were brought to Earth, technology continues to evolve, enabling significant discoveries about the moon and the inner solar system.
These findings mark a significant milestone in unraveling the ancient mysteries of our celestial neighbor. As scientists further uncover the moon’s secrets, humanity’s understanding of its origins and its crucial role in Earth’s history will continue to expand.