A recent study has revealed that two valleys on the Moon’s surface, similar in depth to the Grand Canyon, were formed in just 10 minutes after a massive meteorite impact 3.8 billion years ago. The impact, which was about 25 kilometers in diameter, released energy 130 times more powerful than the detonation of the entire world’s atomic arsenal.
The two valleys, known as the Schrödinger valley and the Planck valley, are about 270 kilometers long and up to three and a half kilometers deep. They were formed when rocks thrown up by the impact piled up at the rim, creating a circular mountain range with peaks reaching 2,500 meters in height.
Researchers used detailed images from satellites to generate maps that reconstructed the direction and speed of the debris trails ejected after the impact. The study highlights that the Schrödinger crater basin is a “best available analogue” for the Chicxulub crater, which wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
The formation of these valleys will facilitate the research of astronauts scheduled to land on the Moon in two years as part of NASA’s Artemis program. The valleys are located beyond the landing zone, making it easier for astronauts to collect rocks that are over 3.8 billion years old, corresponding to the earliest stage of the Moon and Earth’s formation.
The discovery provides valuable insights into the distribution of ejected rocks and the trajectory of impacting bodies, which will help scientists understand this phenomenon better. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications on February 5.
Source: https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-02-05/a-meteorite-carved-two-valleys-as-deep-as-the-grand-canyon-on-the-moon-in-just-10-minutes.html