【科技日报】嫦娥六号月球岩屑揭示太阳系撞击历史

Core Viewpoint - The research team led by Xu Yigang from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry has accurately determined that the Apollo basin on the Moon formed 4.16 billion years ago, providing crucial evidence for understanding the late heavy bombardment in the solar system [1][2]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study published in the journal Nature Astronomy reveals that the age of the Apollo basin has been pushed forward by at least 100 million years, updating the timeline for the onset of the late heavy bombardment [2]. - The research indicates that the impact flux during the late heavy bombardment period shows a gradual decline, contradicting the hypothesis of a sudden increase in impact flux between 4 billion and 3.8 billion years ago [2]. Group 2: Methodology - The team analyzed 3.5 grams of lunar soil, discovering three rock fragments with diameters of 150-350 micrometers, which are ideal "rock clocks" that record impact events [1]. - The age determination of the rock fragments was achieved by integrating remote sensing images and geochemical data, confirming the 4.16 billion-year age for the Apollo basin [2].