NASA aims for Moon’s biggest crater: uncovering the secrets of the South Pole-Aitken Basin
The South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA) on the far side of the Moon has just unveiled a new secret. According to a study published in Nature by Jeffrey Andrews-Hanna from the University of Arizona, the massive 2,500-kilometer-wide crater was actually formed by an asteroid impacting from the north, not from the south as previously believed. This fresh perspective not only changes our understanding of the basin’s origin and internal composition but also sheds light on why it differs so greatly from the visible side of the Moon.
Exciting Discoveries in the Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin
The findings of this study are in line with NASA’s upcoming Artemis III mission, scheduled to touch down on the southern rim of the basin in 2027 to gather geological samples. By reinterpreting the impact that created SPA, scientists hope to gain vital insights into the Moon’s formation and early evolution.
