Scientists Say Apollo 17 Lunar Dust Reveals Moon Is Much Older Than Previously Thought
Video Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories - Duration: 01:31s - Published
Scientists Say Apollo 17 Lunar Dust Reveals Moon Is Much Older Than Previously Thought
Scientists Say Apollo 17 , Lunar Dust Reveals Moon, Is Much Older Than
Previously Thought.
'The Guardian' reports that researchers believe
they have found evidence to suggest the Moon
is 50 million years older than previously believed.
A team of scientists looked at crystals found
in lunar dust brought to Earth in 1972
as part of NASA's Apollo 17 mission.
.
A team of scientists looked at crystals found
in lunar dust brought to Earth in 1972
as part of NASA's Apollo 17 mission.
.
It’s amazing being able to
have proof that the rock
you’re holding is the oldest bit
of the moon we’ve found so far.
It’s an anchor point for so many
questions about the Earth.
, Dr Jennika Greer, Study lead author from
the University of Glasgow, via 'The Guardian' .
When you know how old something is, you can better understand what has happened to it in its history, Dr Jennika Greer, Study lead author from
the University of Glasgow, via 'The Guardian' .
'The Guardian' reports that scientists believe
a Mars-sized body struck Earth approximately 100
million years after the formation of our solar system.
The impact is believed to have
ejected a huge mass of material
that would eventually form the moon.
.
The high energy generated by the impact meant
the surface of the moon was initially molten
and later solidified as the lunar surface cooled.
The team believes that crystals analyzed in the study were
formed during this cooling process, offering researchers
a way to determine their age and the age of the Moon.
'The Guardian' reports that previous research has suggested
the moon to be approximately 4.42 billion years old,
however, crystals now may be evidence of an even older date.
This age pushes back the age of
the first preserved lunar crust by ∼
40 [million years] and provides
a minimum formation age for the
moon within 110 [million years] after
the formation of the solar system, Dr Jennika Greer, Study lead author from
the University of Glasgow, via 'The Guardian'
An underground cave stretching tens of metres below an open pit on the moon has been discovered which could be a potential base for future astronauts, say.. Sky News
Recently Spotted Asteroid, Set for Near Miss With Earth.
ABC reports that an asteroid
is set to make a close pass
by Earth this weekend.
Asteroid 2024 MK should
be visible with the proper
equipment and timing. .
Asteroid 2024 MK should
be visible with the proper
equipment and timing. .
The space rock will make its closest approach past
Earth early on June 29, passing at just three-quarters
of the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
The asteroid, which was first spotted two
weeks ago by an observatory in South Africa,
is estimated to be about 393 feet to 853 feet wide.
According to asteroid expert Davide Farnocchia,
who works for NASA's Center for Near-Earth
Object Studies, asteroids the size of 2024 MK
only pass by about every 25 years.
We’re going to see a few
of those during our lifetimes,
but it’s not something that
happens every other day, Davide Farnocchia, NASA Center for
Near-Earth Object Studies, via ABC.
On June 27, a 7,579-foot asteroid just passed
the Earth at a slightly greater distance and
was only visible with professional telescopes.
The upcoming 2024 MK will be visible
with a small telescope but will not
be visible to the naked eye. .
ABC reports that skywatchers in
the Southern Hemisphere will have
the best odds of spotting the asteroid.
The next major asteroid is set for April 13, 2029,
when Apophis will pass Earth and be visible with
the naked eye to viewers in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
ESA and China Space Agency , Collaboration Detects Negative Ions , on Dark Side of Moon.
China's Chang'e-6 lunar lander landed on the
dark side of the Moon, successfully gathered
samples and lifted off in just over 48 hours. .
'Futurism' reports that the historic feat resulted in the
first-ever samples collected from the far side of the
Moon, which permanently faces away from the Earth.
The trip also saw the lander deposit several scientific
payloads, including the Negative Ions at the Lunar Surface
(NILS) instrument for the European Space Agency.
This was ESA’s first activity on the
surface of the Moon, a world-first
scientifically, and a first lunar
cooperation with China, Neil Melville, ESA’s technical officer for the experiment, via 'Futurism'.
The moon's lack of a magnetic field makes
the surface extremely vulnerable to charged solar
particles, which create negatively charged ions. .
Before it could make its observations, the NILS instrument
had to be adjusted to the extreme lunar surface conditions,
going through a cycle of reboots and blackouts.
Once it adjusted, the instrument detected negative ions
from solar winds bombarding the Moon's surface and
successfully transmitted back usable data.
We have collected an
amount and quality of data
far beyond our expectations, Neil Melville, ESA’s technical officer for the experiment, via 'Futurism'.
'Futurism' explains that the data could have significant
implications for our understanding of how our celestial
neighborhood deals without having a magnetic field. .
These observations on the Moon will
help us better understand the surface
environment and act as a pathfinder
to explore negative ion populations
in other airless bodies in the
Solar System, from planets to
asteroids and other moons, Martin Wieser, NILS principal investigator, via 'Futurism'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Two astronauts who have been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) for over a month are talking to reporters for the first time on Wednesday afternoon. Sky News
NASA Discovers Mysterious , Martian 'Hole' That Could , Shelter Future Astronauts.
'LiveScience' reports that scientists have
discovered a mysterious pit on the side
of an ancient volcano on Mars.
The discovery has generated
excitement due to what it may reveal
beneath the Red Planet's surface.
Images of the pit were
first captured by NASA's
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. .
The hole's origins and
depth remain unknown.
This pit, found on an extinct lava flow of Arsia Mons,
appears to be a vertical shaft that scientists
believe could lead to a much larger cavern. .
The pit could also be a deep
lava tube formed at a time when
Arsia Mons was still active.
Due to the thin atmosphere and lack of a magnetic
field, scientists have looked to pits and caves to
potentially shelter astronauts in the future. .
'LiveScience' reports that if Mars ever hosted life, those
organisms may have sheltered in pits like this one, which
could offer protection and even allow life to flourish. .
If future missions reveal that the pit leads to a large
open cave, it could provide the perfect landing
site for crewed missions to Mars in the future.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Apollo 16 landed on the Moon at 8:23 p.m. Houston time on April 20, 1972 (April 21 at 2:23 UTC). Their site north of Descartes crater was the only Apollo site in purely highlands terrain, where the..
The story of Apollo 13, showcasing the remarkable human resilience and determination to survive against overwhelming odds. The mission began in Florida, USA, as three astronauts embarked on an..
![Recently Spotted Asteroid Set for Near Miss With Earth [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240628/1379913002-Recently-Spotted-Asteroid-Set-for-Near-Miss-With.jpg)
![China brings back first samples from far side of the Moon [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240625/1379526920-China-brings-back-first-samples-from-far-side.jpg)
![ESA and China Space Agency Collaboration Detects Negative Ions on Dark Side of Moon [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240610/1378153534-ESA-and-China-Space-Agency-Collaboration-Detects-Negative.jpg)
![NASA astronauts voice confidence that Boeing Starliner will bring them home [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240711/1381289204-NASA-astronauts-voice-confidence-that-Boeing-Starliner-will.jpg)
![NASA Discovers Mysterious Martian 'Hole' That Could Shelter Future Astronauts [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20240619/1378992944-NASA-Discovers-Mysterious-Martian-Hole-That-Could-Shelter.jpg)
![Apollo 16 Lands in the Lunar Highlands [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20231003/1696359512-Apollo-16-Lands-in-the-Lunar-Highlands.jpg)
![Mystery of Apollo 13 Mission | Lost in Space | Dhruv Rathee [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20231001/1696183889-Mystery-of-Apollo-13-Mission-Lost-in.jpg)
