How old is the Moon? – level 2
27-10-2023 07:00
In 1972, during the Apollo 17 mission, astronauts gathered moon rocks and soil.
Recently, scientists studied crystals in a rock collected by astronaut Harrison Schmitt. These crystals are called zircon and they help us learn about the moon’s age and how it formed. They found that the moon is about 40 million years older than we thought. It formed over 4.46 billion years ago. The moon likely formed when a big object, like Mars, hit Earth a long time ago. This collision sent hot rock into space, which later became the moon.
Scientists used a special method to confirm the zircon’s age. Understanding the moon’s age is important because it plays a role in stabilizing Earth and making it suitable for life. The moon also influences our planet’s weather and it is a source of inspiration for people.
Difficult words: gather (to collect), collision (when two or more objects hit each other), stabilize (to stop changing).
You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.
Why is it important for scientists to understand the moon's age and how it formed?
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