Recent research has unveiled that an asteroid impact approximately 3.8 billion years ago created two significant canyons on the moon's far side, offering valuable insights for NASA's future missions. Using data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, scientists detailed the violent impact process which formed massive canyons in mere minutes, a stark contrast to Earth’s Grand Canyon which formed over millions of years. This discovery suggests that the south pole, targeted for future manned missions, remains free from debris, allowing the collection of ancient lunar rocks and enhancing understanding of the moon's and Earth's origins.
The incoming space rock passed over the lunar south pole before hitting, creating a huge basin and sending streams of boulders hurtling at a speed of nearly 1 mile a second.
Kring said it's unclear whether these two canyons are permanently shadowed like some of the craters at the moon's south pole.
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