New Research Reveals Surprising Age of the Moon

New research from Northwestern University suggests that the moon may be 40 million years older than previously believed. Scientists studying zircon crystals in lunar dust brought back by Apollo 17 astronauts estimated the age of the crystals to be 4.46 billion years old using atom probe tomography and radiometric dating. The moon's formation is thought to have occurred over 4 billion years ago when a Mars-sized object collided with a young Earth. Understanding the moon's age and composition is crucial as it plays a significant role in stabilizing Earth's rotational axis and influencing tides. NASA's upcoming Artemis missions are expected to provide further insights into our lunar companion.