Entertainment Report
New Study Says the Moon’s Age is Millions of Years Off
The moon is a constant in our lives. It causes Earth’s ocean tides to ebb and flow, it stabilizes the planet’s axial tilt and, until recently, it was assumed to have accompanied the Earth for over 4.5 billion years.
A new study has posited that previous estimates of the moon’s age were millions of years off.
Scientists from the German Aerospace Center calculated how long it took the moon’s magma ocean — it’s a widely held belief that the lunar surface was once molten — to cool, and they estimated that the moon is actually almost 100 million years younger than previously thought — about 85 million years younger, to be exact.
So the moon, they say, was actually born at the tail-end of the Earth’s formation.
“This is the first time that the age of the Moon can be directly linked to an event that occurred at the very end of the Earth’s formation, namely the formation of the core,” said Thorsten Kleine, study co-author from the Institute of Planetology at the University of Münster in Germany.
Their findings were published this month in the journal Science Advances.
How the moon was made
Many scientists agree on the moon’s origin story: Around 4.51 billion years ago, the Earth was still heating up and changing rapidly. During that time, it collided with a protoplanet called Theia, which sent rock shooting off Earth and into space.
Theia gets it name from one of the titans in Greek mythology, known as the mother of the moon goddess Selene. Nothing remains of the protoplanet.
This debris eventually collected over a couple thousand years and formed Earth’s natural satellite — the moon.
The energy that resulted from the agglomeration of rock created an ocean of magma on the nascent moon’s surface. It eventually crystallized and formed the lunar surface as we know it today.
How to age a 4-billion-year-old astral body
Samples returned from the moon during the Apollo missions and Soviet Luna robototic missions have not helped to provide data for an exact age of the moon. So scientists have had to explore other methods.
Using a computer model, the team of scientists estimated how long it took the moon’s magma ocean to cool and solidify. Knowing how long that process of crystallization took clued them into how old the moon truly is.
Previous models estimated that it took up to 30 million years for the magma ocean to cool. This new study has suggested those models were millions of years off.
But how to re-create a process that took place during the very beginning of the solar system’s existence? That part required a “great deal of imagination and creativity,” the researchers said.
The scientists also needed to calculate the composition of the ancient minerals that formed when the ocean solidified. This helped them link different types of rocks to certain stages of the magma ocean’s evolution.
All that modeling found that it took the moon nearly 200 million years to cool from its molten form and create what we now know as the lunar crust.
Scientists looked to the moon’s mineral composition to estimate that the moon is around 4.425 billion years old, or 85 million years younger than what previous studies had proven. That’s around the time Earth’s core settled, the researchers said.
The-CNN-Wire
By: NBC Palm Springs
July 16, 2020
Latest Instagram Posts
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. What’s your favorite NFL team?
A major cleanup is underway after powerful waves damaged 14 beachfront homes near Capistrano Beach in Orange County. Residents are concerned their homes could remain vulnerable without protective measures in place. Crews are clearing debris, while efforts to bring in protective boulders were delayed by high tide. #California #OrangeCounty #CapistranoBeach #CoastalWaves #Beachfront #WeatherNews
Two new Girl Scout cookies are coming in 2027 🍪 Meet Sparkables: a crunchy oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips and colorful sprinkles, developed with Partake in a facility designed to avoid the nine major food allergens. And for the pups: Patch Pals 🐾 Soft-baked, blueberry muffin-flavored dog cookies in four adorable designs. Both will be available online beginning in January. Which one are you most excited to try? #GirlScouts #GirlScoutCookies #NewCookies #DogTreats #FoodAllergyFriendly #CookieSeason
It’s more than just dancing — it’s fitness, confidence and community. A Coachella Valley dance studio is helping adults move their bodies, have fun and step into their power, one class at a time. And during Beyoncé’s birthday week, the energy was turned all the way up. “When in doubt, twerk it out.” See how VXN Worldwide Dance Company is getting the Valley moving — and building confidence along the way. Read more at NBCPalmSprings.com. #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #Dance #Fitness #Community NBCPalmSprings
☕️ Social Time with Thalia & Jerry. What are you going to be for Halloween? 🎃
Labor Day traffic is picking up in Palm Springs. If you’re heading out, our Maria Noble Valdez has what you can expect on the roads here. Be sure to stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs and nbcpalmsprings.com for more Labor Day coverage #LaborDay #LaborDayTraffic #PalmSprings #TrafficUpdate #i10
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Cael Woody with the dot under pressure, 2) Tatum Webster with the pass breakup, 3) Ivan Garza with the rushing TD, 4) Sean Meza with the toe tap, or 5) Jesus. Valenzuela with the strong hands #fypage #fridaynightlights #top3 #hondaofthedesert
Me On A Plate is back! We head over to @tacquila_ps to talk to chef David Arreguin about his love of spice, being the seventh of nine children, and his drive to always follow his passion. Check it out now on our website nbcpalmsprings.com
Nearly a year after wildfires tore through Mountain Center, the scars are still visible along the Palms to Pines Highway. Now, fire crews are working to repair those burn areas and reduce the risk of flooding, erosion and mudslides when heavy rain arrives. The work includes fire-line suppression repairs, water bars and other measures designed to slow rainwater and keep burned soil from washing away. CAL FIRE Riverside County Battalion Chief Ryan Lubin says the steep terrain, dry brush and limited access continue to create challenges for mountain communities. With El Niño conditions expected to bring periods of heavy rain, officials say preparing now could help protect homes and communities from the aftermath of wildfire. The message from firefighters: preparation can save lives. Read the full story at NBCPalmSprings.com. #MountainCenter #Highway74 #PalmsToPines #CALFIRE #Wildfire WildfireRecovery FireSafety CoachellaValley SanJacintoMountains
Gas prices in Riverside County are climbing toward $6 a gallon — and that’s more than $1 higher than this time last year. A 15-gallon fill-up now costs about $86, leaving many drivers wondering how much longer they can absorb the rising cost. On this week’s Roggin Report, Fred Roggin and the panel debate how expensive gas is changing the way people travel, work and live — and why prices are so much higher here. Watch the full conversation at NBCPalmSprings.com. #RogginReport #FredRoggin #GasPrices #RiversideCounty #CoachellaValley