👤 whose
Whose work first measured the age of the Moon from rocks returned from space?
Earth SciencePlanetary Geology
Quick Answer
Scientists including Clair Patterson and colleagues helped date Moon rocks in the Apollo era. The oldest lunar samples are about 4.5 billion years old.
The Full Story
Apollo missions brought back lunar rocks and soil between 1969 and 1972, allowing scientists to apply radiometric dating to the Moon. Researchers, including geochemists such as Clair Patterson, helped show that many lunar rocks are about 4.5 billion years old. These ages supported theories about the early Solar System and the Moon's formation. Lunar samples remain among the most important materials in planetary science.
Key Facts
1.Apollo returned lunar samples from 1969 to 1972
2.Old lunar rocks date to about 4.5 billion years
3.Radiometric dating was applied to Moon rocks
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Moon rocks told scientists the age of the Solar System’s oldest neighbors."