Asteroid Impact Formed Lunar Canyons in Minutes

Recent studies reveal that two massive lunar canyons, Vallis Schrödinger and Vallis Planck, were formed in under ten minutes by an asteroid impact about 3.8 billion years ago. These canyons, located on the Moon's far side, are comparable in size to Earth's Grand Canyon but were carved by streams of high-speed debris from the Schrödinger impact basin. The impact released energy equivalent to 130 times the global nuclear arsenal, sending rocks flying at speeds near 2,200 miles per hour. This event occurred during a period of heavy bombardment in the solar system, potentially reshaping both Earth and the Moon. The findings, derived from data by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, have significant implications for NASA's Artemis missions targeting lunar exploration zones near the south pole.