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Moon’s Deepest Canyons Carved in Minutes by High-Velocity Impact Debris

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Scientists have discovered that two enormous lunar canyons, deeper than the Grand Canyon, were formed in a matter of minutes due to the rapid movement of high-speed impact debris. The canyons, known as Vallis Schrödinger and Vallis Planck, stretch for 270 and 280 kilometers, respectively, with depths reaching up to 3.5 kilometers. In comparison, the Grand Canyon on Earth has a maximum depth of about 1.9 kilometers. These lunar formations are located near the Schrödinger impact basin in the moon’s south polar region, an area dominated by rugged mountains and deep craters.

A study published in Nature Communications suggests that these canyons, along with several other valleys, resulted from material ejected during the impact that created the Schrödinger basin. This massive crater, measuring 320 kilometers across, formed approximately 3.81 billion years ago. It lies on the outskirts of the South Pole–Aitken basin, the moon’s largest and oldest known impact structure, which dates back more than 4.2 billion years.

The study also highlights the astonishing energy involved in carving these canyons. Scientists estimate that rock debris from the impact moved at speeds between 3,420 and 4,600 kilometers per hour—far surpassing the velocity of a 9mm bullet, which travels at about 2,200 kilometers per hour. The force generated by this event is believed to have been more than 130 times greater than the combined energy of all nuclear weapons currently in existence on Earth.

These findings provide new insights into the moon’s violent geological history and the powerful processes that shaped its surface. Understanding these rapid transformations could also help scientists refine models of planetary formation and impact dynamics across the solar system.

New Research Reveals Active Lunar Tectonics, Challenging Moon’s Long-Standing Dormancy

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A new study has challenged the long-held belief that the moon has been geologically dormant for billions of years. Recent findings show that tectonic activity might still be occurring beneath the lunar surface, potentially altering our understanding of the moon’s geological history. Researchers have identified small ridges on the far side of the moon that appear to have formed within the last 200 million years, indicating that the moon may not be as inactive as previously thought.

The research, published in The Planetary Science Journal on January 21, 2025, was conducted by a team from the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Maryland. The study revealed 266 previously unknown ridges located in volcanic regions on the far side of the moon, which are believed to be around 3.2 to 3.6 billion years old. However, the ridges themselves appear much younger, suggesting that tectonic processes are still shaping the lunar surface today.

The team used a technique known as crater counting to estimate the ages of the ridges. According to Jaclyn Clark, an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Maryland’s Department of Geology, the presence of fewer craters on the ridges suggests they formed after other surface features had already been impacted. By examining the way the ridges cut through existing craters, the researchers were able to conclude that the lunar surface has experienced tectonic movement relatively recently—within the past 160 million years.

These findings could have profound implications for future lunar exploration. If the moon is still undergoing tectonic activity, it could affect the planning of lunar missions and the construction of infrastructure such as habitats or research stations. Understanding the current geological processes of the moon will be crucial as humanity looks to establish a more permanent presence on the lunar surface in the coming decades.