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Asteroid Impact Carved Moon Canyons in Just 10 Minutes

2/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A groundbreaking study in *Nature Communications* uncovers that two colossal moon canyons were carved in less than 10 minutes by a cataclysmic asteroid impact 3.8 billion years ago. This event, near the Schrödinger basin, released energy over 130 times greater than the world's nuclear arsenal, propelling NASA's Artemis program and paving the way for future lunar adventures.

History

Historical Context

A recent study reveals that two massive lunar canyons formed in under 10 minutes due to an asteroid impact 3.8 billion years ago, near the Schrödinger basin. This cataclysmic event parallels the ambitious goals of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, echoing the Apollo missions' legacy of lunar exploration and scientific discovery.

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Story summary

A groundbreaking study in *Nature Communications* uncovers that two colossal moon canyons were carved in less than 10 minutes by a cataclysmic asteroid impact 3.8 billion years ago. This event, near the Schrödinger basin, released energy over 130 times greater than the world's nuclear arsenal, propelling NASA's Artemis program and paving the way for future lunar adventures.

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