Why are impact features on the Moon preserved over billions of years as a scientific archive?
Answer
The Moon lacks an atmosphere, wind, or flowing water to cause erosion
The Moon serves as a critical, silent recorder of the bombardment history of the inner Solar System primarily because of its geological stasis. Unlike Earth, which constantly erases ancient impact evidence through erosion caused by wind and flowing water, or through active geological processes like plate tectonics, the Moon lacks these modifying agents. Consequently, impact features like craters are preserved in near-pristine condition over immense timescales, allowing scientists to use their density and depth to construct a reliable timeline for planetary development.
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