Precise Dating Reveals Moon's Largest Crater Formed 4.338 Billion Years Ago

New analysis of lunar zircon samples links massive magmatic event to a single cataclysmic impact.

Geoscientists used zircon samples from Apollo missions to date the magmatic event to 4.338 billion years ago.
The event is believed to be caused by the impact that created the South Pole-Aitken basin, the moon's largest crater.
This impact likely excavated lunar mantle material, influencing the moon's crust and mantle development.
The findings suggest a dynamic early Solar System with large objects colliding with planetary bodies.
New samples from China's Chang'e 6 mission could further validate these findings and advance lunar history understanding.