Asteroids rain on the Moon

Anyone who has observed the moon through a telescope has no doubt: many craters on the surface of the moon have proved there are bombardments of asteroids with intense intensity in the past. But how long has it been?

Through the analysis of the age of the moon's rock samples obtained through the Apollo program shows that the moon and possibly the Earth have experienced this terrible period about 3.9 billion years ago.

The results of this study by Professor Robert Duncan (University of Oregon) have been published in the newspaper 'International Meteor Society'. The age of the stone samples, analyzed by radiation measurement techniques, allowed this period of intense activity to occur about between 3.8 and 4 billion years ago.

This period especially caught the attention of the scientists because it coincided with the appearance of life on earth. Ask scientists if these asteroids bring extraterrestrial life to Earth? Currently there is no definitive answer.

What made this happen: could be the result of collisions of comets in the asteroids' belt or perhaps even a collision between the 10th and second planets. 11 in the solar system.

Through the analysis of the moon's rock patterns, we can learn more about the early stages of the solar system. Earth's rock patterns are not conducive to such discoveries, because the creation of the array of activities makes the earth's crust continually renew and erase the oldest traces.

--- --- --- --- ---
The article is sent by Tri Quang to readers
Translated from ' Sciences et Avernir 13-4-2006 '