The Moon and the Earth are intimately linked: the Moon formed as a result of the collision of the proto-Earth (our planet at its initial stage) with an impactor (object striking a star) the size of Mars called Theia . Most of the Moon is composed of matter from our blue planet. Moreover, they have the same isotopic composition, which is to say that they share the same DNA. On the other hand, the date of formation of our only natural satellite remains approximate: scientists have hitherto estimated that the Moon was formed between 100 and 150 million years after the birth of the solar system, formed 4, 56 billion years.
The Moon and the Earth are intimately linked: the Moon formed as a result of the collision of the proto-Earth (our planet at its initial stage) with an impactor (object striking a star) the size of Mars called Theia . Most of the Moon is composed of matter from our blue planet. Moreover, they have the same isotopic composition, which is to say that they share the same DNA. On the other hand, the date of formation of our only natural satellite remains approximate: scientists have hitherto estimated that the Moon was formed between 100 and 150 million years after the birth of the solar system, formed 4, 56 billion years.
In a study published Monday, July 29, 2019 in Nature Geoscience, scientists at the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the University of Cologne (Germany) said that the Moon was born about 50 million years after the formation of the Solar system, reports Eurekalert. In other words, the Moon would be 4.51 billion years old and would be much older than previously thought. The researchers came to this conclusion after analyzing the chemical composition of a variety of samples collected during the Apollo missions from 1961 to 1975.
A unique opportunity to study the evolution of planets
Knowing the exact age of the Moon would allow us to understand how and when the Earth was formed precisely and how it evolved at the beginning of the Solar System. In a press release, Maxwell Thiemens, former researcher at the University of Cologne and lead author of the study, explained: "The first steps of humanity on another world exactly 50 years ago gave samples which allowed us to understand the timing and evolution of the Moon Since the formation of the Moon was the last major global event after the formation of the Earth, the age of the Moon also provides a minimum age for the Earth ".
A unique opportunity to study the evolution of planets
Knowing the exact age of the Moon would allow us to understand how and when the Earth was formed precisely and how it evolved at the beginning of the Solar System. In a press release, Maxwell Thiemens, former researcher at the University of Cologne and lead author of the study, explained: "The first steps of humanity on another world exactly 50 years ago gave samples which allowed us to understand the timing and evolution of the Moon Since the formation of the Moon was the last major global event after the formation of the Earth, the age of the Moon also provides a minimum age for the Earth ".
