The Moon lacks the geology to erase its own history

Space
The Moon lacks the geology to erase its own history

Without wind or water to smooth its surface, the Moon acts as a permanent ledger, recording every cosmic bruise it has received for billions of years.

The Moon is a geological time capsule because it lacks the internal heat and atmosphere required to recycle its surface. On Earth, plate tectonics and weather eventually erase the scars of ancient asteroid impacts, but on the lunar surface, a footprint or a crater can remain unchanged for eons. Recently, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter identified a fresh impact crater 225 meters wide, a discovery only possible by comparing high-resolution images of the same spot taken years apart.

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