A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that two Grand Canyon-sized canyons on the moon were formed in under 10 minutes by a massive asteroid impact. The impact, which occurred about 3.8 billion years ago, released energy approximately 130 times greater than current global nuclear arsenals.
The Schrödinger impact basin, located near the moon’s south pole, was carved out of rocky debris sent violently aloft when the asteroid struck the lunar surface. Scientists used data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft and computer modeling to determine the flow directions and speed of the flying debris. The rubble would have traveled at speeds of up to 2,200 miles per hour.
The canyons, Vallis Planck and Vallis Schrödinger, are approximately 174 and 168 miles long, respectively, and 1.7 and 2.2 miles deep. The impact occurred during a period of heavy bombardment in the inner solar system, possibly triggered by changes in the orbits of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
The object that struck the moon is estimated to be around 15 miles in diameter, larger than the asteroid that caused the dinosaurs’ extinction on Earth 66 million years ago. The canyons provide valuable insights into the early history of the moon and its formation.
The findings are significant for NASA’s Artemis mission, which aims to return humans to the moon by 2025. The Schrödinger impact basin is located near the exploration zone, making it an attractive target for sampling ancient rocks that could shed light on the moon’s early history.
Source: https://www.ksl.com/article/51244809/asteroid-impact-on-moon-blasted-two-grand-canyons-in-10-minutes