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The moon is older than we thought
UP UNTIL recently, the moon was thought to be 4,42 billion years old, but new research suggests it’s 40 million years older – making it 4,46 billion years old. Scientists came to this conclusion after studying pieces of moon rock taken during the last lunar landing.
Although the first study on the moon’s age was done 51 years ago when Apollo 17 returned to Earth, scientific techniques that now exist were not available then.
HOW WAS THE MOON FORMED?
During the earliest days of our solar system, when Earth was still forming, it is thought an object the size of Mars collided with our planet, blasting molten rock into space. The magma (molten rock) later hardened to become the moon.
Scientists believe zircon crystals are the first solids to have crystallised after the moon’s formation. Zircon is a very tough stone and lasts
