‘4.53 billion years ago’: Everything we knew about the Moon could be wrong
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Ancient Discovery
The Moon’s formation has been traced to 4.53 billion years ago, nearly as old as Earth itself, according to research by Francis Nimmo and team, published in Nature.
Chaotic Collision
Scientists believe a Mars-sized object collided with a young Earth, ejecting material into orbit to form the Moon.
Zircon Clues
Lunar zircon crystals, dated as old as 4.51 billion years, challenge previous theories of a global magma ocean.
Orbital Heat
The Moon’s early eccentric orbit caused tidal forces that remelted its crust 4.35 billion years ago.
Metal Mystery
Earth’s surface metals from early bombardments are missing on the Moon, likely sunk during remelting.
Impact Erased
Tidal remelting may explain the Moon’s lack of expected impact basins from early solar system collisions.
Ages Aligned
Revised models show lunar zircons and surface rocks align with a timeline of crustal remelting.
Earth’s Twin
Earth and the Moon may have been companions for almost their entire 4.54-billion-year lifespan.
Basin Insight
The South Pole-Aitken Basin’s age and formation align with this new timeline of lunar remelting.
New Frontier
The study reshapes our understanding of the Moon’s formation, evolution, and its ties to Earth.