Giant crater on the Moon where Indians could land is 4.3 billion years old

The SPA basin's age has long been debated, with scientists aiming to pinpoint the timing of the impact that created it.

In Short

• This impact marked the beginning of the Moon’s basin-forming era
• This period holds clues to understanding the bombardment history
• The formation age of the SPA basin has remained uncertain until now

Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin on the Moon, a colossal impact crater on the lunar farside.

The SPA basin is not only the largest impact site on the Moon but also the oldest visible basin in the inner Solar System, formed over 4 billion years ago. Understanding its age is crucial as space agencies race to explore the Moon’s south pole for potential resources and strategic locations for future bases.

The SPA basin's age has long been debated, with scientists aiming to pinpoint the timing of the impact that created it. This impact, according to a new study published in journal Nature, marked the beginning of the Moon’s basin-forming era, a period that holds clues to understanding the bombardment history of the inner Solar System.

However, despite its significance, the formation age of the SPA basin has remained uncertain until now.

A team of researchers studied a lunar meteorite, Northwest Africa 2995, found in the Sahara Desert. The meteorite’s chemical composition closely matches rocks found in the southern part of the SPA basin, making it an ideal candidate for dating the basin’s formation.

Using radiometric dating methods, scientists determined the meteorite’s minerals and rock components to be between 4.32 and 4.33 billion years old, suggesting the SPA basin was formed during this time.

This date places the basin’s formation roughly 120 million years before a major period of lunar impacts that created other significant craters between 4.2 and 3.8 billion years ago.

WHY IS IT A BIG DEAL?

These findings are vital for several reasons. First, they challenge the idea of a narrow, intense period of impacts known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, suggesting instead that the Moon’s impact history may have spanned over a longer period.

Additionally, the SPA basin may have reshaped the lunar surface itself, erasing evidence of even older impacts.

As space agencies, including NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), Isro, and China’s CNSA, ramp up their plans for lunar exploration, the SPA basin becomes an increasingly important area of interest.

Its unique location and ancient formation make it a prime target for studying the Moon’s geological history and the early Solar System.

Moreover, with the Moon’s south pole becoming a focal point for potential lunar bases due to the possibility of water ice, understanding the ancient impacts in this region could guide future missions in selecting landing sites and ensuring stable habitats.

The new insights into the SPA basin deepen our knowledge of the Moon's past, providing valuable information that could influence the next phase of space exploration.