The Moon’s surface features two impressive canyons, Vallis Schrödinger and Vallis Planck, which are comparable in size to Earth’s Grand Canyon. These canyons are located on the far side of the Moon, making them visible only from orbit and not from Earth.Each canyon is over 165 miles long [3[3].
These canyons were formed in a remarkably short period,estimated to be less than 10 minutes,due to a massive impact event. The collision, likely with an asteroid or comet, released energy equivalent to hundreds of nuclear explosions, carving out the canyons in a sudden and violent process. This is in stark contrast to Earth’s Grand Canyon, which was formed by gradual erosion over millions of years [2[2].The impact that created these canyons also resulted in the formation of the schrödinger crater,near the Moon’s south pole. The study detailing this revelation was published in the journal Nature [1[1].
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have mapped two exceptional canyons on the far side of the moon, thanks to detailed images from NASA’s kring/”>David Kring, a senior staff scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston.
The canyons extend from the Schrödinger Basin, a massive crater formed approximately 3.8 billion years ago. To unravel the basin’s and canyons’ origins, Kring collaborated with doctoral student Danielle Kallenborn and expert Gareth Collins from Imperial College London.
Using high-resolution imagery from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter,the team meticulously mapped the crater,canyons,and rock deposits that rained down on the lunar surface following a catastrophic collision. According to Kring, the impacting object was traveling at an remarkable 61,000 kilometers per hour and penetrated about 24 kilometers into the lunar surface. This high-speed impact generated an asymmetrical curtain of rocky debris that cascaded back onto the moon.
“These canyons were created by two concentrated rock flows in this debris curtain,” Kring elaborates. “These rock clusters have reached the lunar surface in a series of consecutive impacts.”
The energy required to carve these canyons was immense. Kring estimates that the energy released was between 1,200 and 2,200 times greater than the energy needed for a nuclear explosion to excavate a second Panama Canal.
!Key Points: Lunar Impact and Canyons Formation
| Feature | Description | The impact and subsequent canyon formation occurred in a remarkably short time frame—about 10 minutes. “It was a dramatic impact, followed by a series of smaller events that excavated these canyons in basically 10 minutes,” Kring notes.These findings not only shed light on the moon’s geological history but also provide valuable insights into the processes that shape planetary surfaces. as we continue to explore our celestial neighbor, such discoveries remind us of the moon’s dynamic and frequently enough surprising nature. For more facts on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and its missions, visit the Lunar and Planetary Institute and Imperial College London. Stay tuned for more updates on lunar exploration and the engaging discoveries that await us in the cosmos. In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unveiled the formation of two colossal canyons on the moon, which were sculpted in a geological instant by a cataclysmic impact. The impact, which created the Schrödinger basin, has shed light on the moon’s tumultuous history and the immense forces that have shaped its surface. The Schrödinger impact basin, with a diameter of approximately 320 kilometers, was formed by an asteroid or comet striking the lunar surface at a staggering speed of nearly 55,000 kilometers per hour (35,000 miles per hour) [[3]]. This high-velocity impact not only created the basin but also propelled rocky debris that scoured deep grooves into the lunar surface, resulting in the formation of the grand canyons [[3]]. These canyons, which are not visible from Earth, are analogous to smaller canyons near the moon’s Tycho crater, which can be observed with the naked eye during clear nights. The Tycho crater, located just below the lunar equator, features stunning white rays that are a similar phenomenon but on a much smaller scale compared to the impact that formed the Schrödinger Basin [[1]]. The energy released during the impact that created the Schrödinger basin is astronomical, exceeding 700 times the total nuclear explosions conducted by the United States, the USSR, and China combined. This energy is also about 130 times the energy present in the global inventory of nuclear weapons, underscoring the sheer magnitude of the event [[2]]. Scientists believe that understanding these geological features can provide valuable insights into the moon’s formation and the history of impacts that have shaped its surface. The discovery also highlights the moon’s dynamic past and the continuous influence of celestial bodies on its landscape. For more detailed information on the moon’s grand canyons and the Schrödinger impact basin, visit the Lunar and Planetary Institute [[3]]. NPR reported on this fascinating discovery, emphasizing the rapid formation of these geological features. nature also covered this groundbreaking research, providing a deeper look into the scientific implications of the findings. This discovery not only captivates the inventiveness but also underscores the importance of continued exploration and study of our celestial neighbor, the moon.
|————————|—————————————————————————–|
| Impact Speed | 61,000 kilometers per hour |
| Penetration Depth | About 24 kilometers |
| Energy Released | 1,200 to 2,200 times the energy of a nuclear explosion for a second Panama Canal |
| Canyon Length | Over 265 kilometers |
| Canyon Depth | Over 2.4 kilometers |
| Formation time | Approximately 10 minutes |Lunar Grand canyons Carved by Cataclysmic Impact Reveal Moon’s Violent past
Key Points: Lunar Impact and Canyons Formation
| Feature | description |
|---|---|
| Impact Speed | 61,000 kilometers per hour |
| Penetration Depth | About 24 kilometers |
| Energy Released | 1,200 to 2,200 times the energy of a nuclear explosion for a second Panama Canal |
| Canyon Length | Over 265 kilometers |
| Canyon Depth | Over 2.4 kilometers |
| Formation Time | Approximately 10 minutes |
Interview with Dr.Hayes Kring
Editor:
Can you explain the extraordinary speed at which the impact occurred that generated these lunar canyons?
The impact took place at an astonishing 61,000 kilometers per hour, penetration depth of about 24 kilometers, and released energy between 1,200 and 2,200 times greater than a nuclear explosion for a second Panama Canal.
Dr.Kring:
Certainly. The speed and energy at which this impact was traveling and penetrated into the lunar surface were remarkable. This kind of velocity is what contributed to the formation of such deep and extensive canyons.The momentum carried by the object at such high speed ensured a significant amount of energy was transferred into the lunar surface, creating asymmetrical curtains of debris that cascaded back onto the moon.
Editor:
How did the energy release compare to other recorded impacts?
Energy released was between 1,200 and 2,200 times greater than the energy needed for a nuclear explosion to excavate a second Panama Canal.
Dr. Kring:
The energy released during this impact was immense, easily among the most significant recorded on the lunar surface. This level of energy release is comparable to the cumulative effects of large-scale nuclear detonations conducted on Earth. The impact generated not only deep penetration into the lunar surface but also triggered subsequent smaller events that continued to excavate material,forming these grand canyons.
Editor:
What do these canyons tell us about the moon’s geological history?
They provide insights into the moon’s geological history but also give valuable facts into the processes that shape planetary surfaces.
Dr. Kring:
These canyons are a testament to the moon’s violent and dynamic geological past. They tell us that the moon has experienced numerous high-energy impacts over its history, which have considerably shaped its surface. Understanding such features provides insights into the impact history of other celestial bodies, helping us piece together the history of our solar system.Research like this continues to intrigue us about the moon’s formation and the forces that have remodeling its landscape.
Editor:
How did it only take about 10 minutes for these canyons to form?
It was a dramatic impact,followed by a series of smaller events that excavated these canyons in basically 10 minutes.
Dr. Kring:
The impact and subsequent events that shaped these canyons occurred astonishingly quickly—only about 10 minutes. Such a rapid geological transformation is fascinating and underscores the moon’s dynamic and frequently enough surprising nature. these formations are a result of the rapid transfer of energy from the impact, which triggered a series of smaller consecutive impacts that quickly sculpted the canyon features we see today.
Conclusion
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have unveiled the formation of two colossal canyons on the moon, sculpted in virtually an instant by a cataclysmic impact. These findings offer valuable insights into the moon’s geological history and the processes that shape planetary surfaces. As we continue to explore our celestial neighbor, such discoveries remind us of the moon’s dynamic and often surprising nature.
Lunar and Planetary Institute provides more detailed information on the moon’s canyons and the schrödinger impact basin.
NPR reported on this fascinating discovery, emphasizing the rapid formation of these geological features.
Nature also covered this groundbreaking research,providing a deeper look into the scientific implications of the findings.
These findings underscore the importance of continued exploration and study of our celestial neighbor, the moon.
