A new study suggests Artemis astronauts may find deep lunar material near the moon’s south pole, scattered by an ancient asteroid impact.
Scientists believe the South Pole–Aitken basin formed more than 4 billion years ago during a violent collision in the early solar system.
The basin stretches over 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) across the moon’s far side and remains one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system.
A new study published in Science Advances on May 7 examined how this enormous crater may have formed. Researchers used advanced 3D computer simulations to recreate the impact and better understand the basin’s shape and structure.
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The team was led by Shigeru Wakita from Purdue University. Their findings suggest the moon was struck by a differentiated asteroid, meaning the object had a dense iron core surrounded by rocky outer layers, similar to those of a small planet.
According to the simulations, the asteroid measured about 160 miles (260 kilometers) wide. It struck the moon at around 13 kilometers per second while traveling from north to south at a shallow 30-degree angle.
Researchers say this shallow impact angle played a major role in shaping the basin. Instead of producing a circular crater, the impact created the South Pole–Aitken basin’s unusual tapered and elongated appearance.
The study describes the impact as a decapitation collision, as the asteroid’s outer rocky layers were stripped away during impact. Meanwhile, the dense iron core continued moving forward and carved deeper into the moon’s surface.
Scientists say this process explains why the basin has its unique shape. Simpler asteroids without separate layers would likely have produced a rounder crater.
The simulations also showed that the impact may have blasted material from deep inside the moon’s mantle toward the lunar south pole. Some of that material may still remain near regions where NASA plans to send astronauts during future Artemis missions.
Researchers estimate the ejecta may include rock fragments excavated from depths greater than 56 miles (90 kilometers) below the lunar surface. These samples could offer rare access to parts of the moon that scientists cannot normally study directly.
The moon’s mantle is important because it may contain clues about how the moon formed and evolved shortly after its creation. Studying this material may also help scientists understand the early history of Earth and other rocky planets.
NASA’s Artemis program aims to return astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo era. The agency has shifted its timeline, and the first crewed moon landing is now expected during Artemis 4, not earlier than 2028.
The lunar south pole has become a major target for exploration because scientists believe the region contains water ice and ancient geological material. The new study suggests astronauts in this area may also encounter debris linked to the South Pole–Aitken impact event.
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If astronauts recover and return these samples to Earth, researchers may finally determine the exact age of the basin. The material could also reveal details about the moon’s deep interior composition and the conditions present in the early solar system.
Scientists have debated the origin of the South Pole–Aitken basin for decades because of its immense size and unusual shape, which are difficult to explain. The new simulations provide one of the clearest models yet for how the crater formed.
The findings may influence future lunar mission planning and sample collection priorities. As Artemis missions move closer to launch, scientists hope the moon’s south pole may hold answers to some of planetary science’s oldest questions.
