Core Findings - Chinese scientists have accurately determined that the Apollo Basin on the Moon formed 4.16 billion years ago, providing key evidence for understanding the timing of the Moon's "Late Heavy Bombardment" period [2][3] - The research was conducted by a team led by Xu Yigang from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, in collaboration with Sun Yat-sen University, the University of Hong Kong, and international partners [2] - The study's findings were published in the international scientific journal Nature Astronomy [2] Research Details - The research team analyzed a 3.5-gram lunar soil sample from the Chang'e 6 mission, identifying three unique rock fragments ranging from 150 to 350 micrometers in size, which are ideal "rock clocks" for recording impact events [2] - The age of the rock fragments was accurately measured, confirming that the 4.16 billion-year age corresponds to the formation of the Apollo Basin [2] - The Apollo Basin, with a diameter of approximately 540 kilometers, is the largest secondary impact structure within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, closely related to the "Late Heavy Bombardment" period [3]

Core Findings - Chinese scientists have accurately dated the formation of the Apollo basin on the Moon to 4.16 billion years ago, providing crucial evidence for the timing of the Late Heavy Bombardment period [1][2] - The research was published in the international journal Nature Astronomy, highlighting the significance of the findings in understanding lunar geological history [1] Research Details - The Apollo basin, with a diameter of approximately 540 kilometers, is the largest secondary impact structure within the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, closely related to the Late Heavy Bombardment [1] - The research team, led by Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Xu Yigang, discovered three unique rock fragments, sized between 150 to 350 micrometers, in just 3.5 grams of lunar soil [1] - These rock fragments are considered ideal "rock clocks" that record impact events during the formation of the Apollo basin [1][2]