The moon is apparently much younger than previously thought. Based on new research, the moon is approximately 4.4 billion to 4.45 billion years old, 100 million years younger than previous estimates, which had Earth's satellite around 4.56 billion years old. Richard Carlson, from the Carnegie Institute of Science, presented the research at the "Origin of the Moon" event at the Royal Society, reports Space.com. Carlson's age for the moon is based on new methods to date the rock from the lunar crust. Carlson's presentation, "Age of the Lunar Crust: Implications for the Time of Moon Formation," revises the moon's date after discovering rocks from Earth that date back to around 4.45 billion years ago, notes io9, that indicated a major impact event. According to Space.com, the moon is believed to have been formed from debris, ejected from Earth, after a planet, roughly the size of Mars, crashed into Earth early on in our solar system's history. The impact caused part of the rocky outer layer of the Earth to melt, and the molten rock would later reform, and researchers can analyze minerals from these rocks to determine their age. Read more http://www.ibtimes.com/turning-back-clock-moon-100-million-years-younger-previously-believed-1409988
